THE FOLLOW UP
GOAL

North Macedonia to begin buying U.S. LNG after new Greece interconnector is finished

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Following completion of the new gas interconnector between North Macedonia and Greece, North Macedonia begins purchasing U.S. LNG (evidenced by contracts, import records, or deliveries tied to U.S. suppliers).

Source summary
The United States and the Republic of North Macedonia announced a framework for a bilateral trade agreement aiming to expand market access for exporters and deepen transatlantic ties. Key provisions include North Macedonia eliminating customs duties on U.S. industrial and agricultural goods, the U.S. keeping reciprocal tariffs at 15% with some products designated for a zero percent rate, cooperation on non-tariff barriers, supply-chain and national security measures, and commitments on environmental protections, intellectual property, labor, digital trade, and services. Both countries intend to finalize, sign, and complete domestic procedures to bring the Agreement into force.
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10 months, 20 days
Next scheduled update: Dec 31, 2026
10 months, 20 days

Timeline

  1. Scheduled follow-up · Jun 30, 2027
  2. Scheduled follow-up · Jun 01, 2027
  3. Scheduled follow-up · Mar 31, 2027
  4. Scheduled follow-up · Mar 01, 2027
  5. Scheduled follow-up · Feb 01, 2027
  6. Scheduled follow-up · Dec 31, 2026
  7. Completion due · Dec 31, 2026
  8. Update · Feb 13, 2026, 08:37 PMin_progress
    Restatement of claim: The White House statement indicates that North Macedonia will commence purchases of U.S. LNG upon completion of the new gas interconnector with Greece. Evidence of progress: Public sources confirm the interconnector project is under development, with construction launching in 2025 and expected completion in the mid- to late-2020s. Sources note the pipeline’s Macedonian section and cross-border link to Greece as foundational for diversifying energy sources and enabling LNG purchases, but no contract or delivery records tied to U.S. LNG have been publicly reported as of early 2026. Current status of the promise: The framework and related statements establish the condition (interconnector completion) before LNG purchases begin, but there is no verifiable public record (contracts, import data, or deliveries) showing actual U.S. LNG purchases commenced by February 2026. Completion timelines cited in trade and energy reporting indicate the interconnector is still under construction, with milestones anticipated in 2025–2027. Dates and milestones: White House and USTR materials (Feb 2026) reference the interconnector and potential LNG purchases contingent on completion; construction progress reports place expected completion around 2027. Independent trade/energy outlets document the ongoing build and contracting for infrastructure but do not document LNG procurement by North Macedonia to date. Reliability note: Official sources confirm the conditional language; industry outlets corroborate construction timelines but do not provide a delivered LNG contract record.
  9. Update · Feb 13, 2026, 05:43 PMin_progress
    The claim states that North Macedonia will commence purchases of U.S. LNG once a new gas interconnector with Greece is completed. Official documents frame this as a conditional commitment rather than an immediate action, and no public LNG contracts or deliveries from the United States have been reported as of February 2026. Progress evidence includes the February 12, 2026 joint statement from the White House and related USTR material noting the interconnector will enable energy diversification, including through increased U.S. LNG purchases, contingent on completion of the interconnector. These sources describe the framework and intent but do not confirm actual LNG procurement yet. Public records thus far do not show North Macedonia having begun LNG imports from the U.S. The interconnector project is described as moving forward, but concrete import activity or signed U.S. supply agreements have not been publicly verified. Key milestones to watch are the completion of the Greece–North Macedonia interconnector and the signing/execution of LNG supply contracts or import records. Official materials reiterate the conditional nature of the pledge, with no firm completion date or confirmed purchases as of early 2026.
  10. Update · Feb 13, 2026, 03:27 PMin_progress
    Restated claim: The White House statement asserts that North Macedonia will commence purchases of U.S. LNG once the new gas interconnector with Greece is completed. Evidence of progress: Construction on the Greece–North Macedonia interconnector began in 2025, with the North Macedonian section contract signed in May 2025 and construction on the North Macedonian side starting in July 2025. Industry reporting projects operation in the first half of 2027 for the interconnector as a whole. Current status vs. LNG purchases: As of February 2026, there is no public evidence that North Macedonia has begun purchasing U.S. LNG linked to the interconnector’s completion. The promise remains contingent on completion and subsequent procurement decisions. Milestones and dates: Key milestones include the May 2025 contract signature, July 2025 construction start on the North Macedonian side, and a projected operational date in the first half of 2027. The interconnector spans about 123 km, with Greek and North Macedonian sections under construction. Reliability of sources and incentives: Reports from the White House and industry outlets confirm progress on the interconnector, while explicit LNG procurement by North Macedonia has not been publicly documented. The project aligns with diversification and regional energy-security incentives in both countries and for U.S. LNG suppliers. Notes on completeness: If the interconnector completes by mid-2027, the purchase promise would likely be evidenced by contracts or imports. Until then, the claim remains in_progress and contingent on completion and procurement decisions.
  11. Update · Feb 13, 2026, 02:21 PMin_progress
    Claim restatement: The North Macedonian government would begin purchases of U.S. LNG after the new gas interconnector with Greece is completed. Progress evidence: Construction of North Macedonia’s section of the Greece–North Macedonia interconnector began in 2025. Reports indicate the project is expected to be completed and become operational in the first half of 2027, with a completion timeline linked to the interconnector’s readiness (Greece–North Macedonia interconnector developments; DESFA NOMAGAS coordination). These developments are contemporaneous with official statements highlighting energy diversification and LNG access once the line is ready. Current status against completion condition: As of early 2026, there is no public record of LNG purchases or contractual deliveries tied to U.S. LNG, which would occur after completion. Public reporting centers on construction progress and expected operational date rather than confirmed LNG import contracts or shipments. The president/administration’s joint statement remains contingent on the interconnector’s completion to trigger LNG purchases. Dates and milestones: Construction started mid-2025; North Macedonian section slated for completion by early 2027 and operation in the first half of 2027, according to industry and regional energy outlets. No verified LNG procurement events have been documented up to February 2026. Source reliability note: The claim’s framing aligns with official U.S. and regional energy statements; multiple industry outlets provide progress updates on the interconnector timelines. Publicly available materials do not show LNG contracts or import records tied to U.S. suppliers as of the date analyzed. The assessment relies on contemporaneous reporting of construction milestones and stated completion windows.
  12. Update · Feb 13, 2026, 12:42 PMin_progress
    Restated claim: North Macedonia will commence purchase of U.S. LNG once the new gas interconnector with Greece is completed. The framework statement ties LNG purchases to the completion of the North Macedonia–Greece interconnector, with explicit language that purchases will begin upon completion. Evidence of progress: Construction activity is underway on the North Macedonia–Greece gas interconnector. News reports indicate North Macedonia launched construction works in 2025, with a contract awarded to a local firm (Rapid Build) and a project described as 68–123 km in length, spanning the North Macedonian–Greek border area. A U.S. government fact sheet reiterates the interconnector as a pathway that could enable increased U.S. LNG purchases after completion. Status of the promise: The completion condition—North Macedonia beginning LNG purchases after interconnector completion—has not yet been met. There are no publicly verified contracts, import records, or delivery notices tied to U.S. LNG attributable to a completed interconnector as of early 2026. The interconnector itself is under construction with an anticipated finish in 2027, leaving the LNG-purchase promise contingent on that timeline. Key milestones and dates: The construction contract was signed in 2025 with North Macedonia stating the project will enable energy security and diversification, including U.S. LNG. Industry reports specify a completion window around 2027, and the interconnector is described as a 68 km North Macedonian segment linked to Greece, funded and built to expand regional gas capacity and supply options. No final procurement or deliveries of U.S. LNG have been publicly documented to date.
  13. Update · Feb 13, 2026, 10:14 AMin_progress
    Restated claim: North Macedonia will commence purchases of U.S. LNG once the new gas interconnector with Greece is completed. The interconnector project is the North Macedonia–Greece link, intended to diversify supply and integrate with Greece’s LNG infrastructure, with the trigger purchase of U.S. LNG upon completion. No credible public evidence shows U.S. LNG purchases have begun; the condition appears contingent on completing the cross-border interconnector. Evidence of progress: Construction of the Macedonian-Greek interconnector began in mid-2025. Reports indicate the North Macedonian section started around July 2025, with completion targeted in the first half of 2027. The project is described as spanning about 70 km in North Macedonia and 56 km in Greece, with a total cost around €60 million and partnerships involving NOMAGAS and DESFA. Milestones cited include a formal start of construction and ongoing works on both sides of the border. Current status relative to the claim: As of February 12, 2026, the interconnector was underway with an anticipated 2027 operational date. There is no public record of binding LNG purchase agreements or LNG deliveries linked to U.S. suppliers being invoked or executed, which keeps the claim in the “not yet fulfilled” category. The absence of contractual LNG volumes tied to U.S. suppliers suggests progress is focused on project construction rather than immediate LNG procurement. Milestones and dates: July 2025 (start of construction on the Macedonian side announced); early 2027 (projected interconnector completion and operation). These timelines are reported by industry outlets and project updates, not by an official U.S. government LNG procurement contract. The lack of a published purchase agreement means the concrete execution of the claim remains pending. Source reliability and incentives: Public updates come from project developers and regional energy press, with the White House statement serving as the original claim trigger. Given the geopolitical incentives to diversify energy supply and expand regional gas trade, the interconnector aligns with broader regional security and diversification goals, but the LNG purchase clause appears contingent on the physical completion milestone rather than a separate policy commitment. The most robust future verification will be any contract or import records tying LNG deliveries to U.S. suppliers after the interconnector becomes operational.
  14. Update · Feb 13, 2026, 07:18 AMin_progress
    Restated claim: The White House joint statement said North Macedonia will commence purchases of U.S. LNG upon completion of a new gas interconnector with Greece. The completion milestone is explicitly tied to LNG purchases in the document (WH brief 2026-02-12). Progress evidence: The interconnector project is underway, with North Macedonian and Greek segments progressing; a 2025 contract for the Macedonian section and reports of a target completion around 2027 are documented by regional energy outlets (Balkan Green Energy News, 2025-05-08). U.S. sources reiterate the interconnector as a pathway to LNG diversification (WH 2026-02-12; USTR 2026-02-). Current status vs. claim: As of February 2026, the interconnector is not yet completed; public estimates point to early-2027 completion, meaning LNG purchases from the U.S. would not yet be underway (Balkan Green Energy News 2025-05-08). There is no verified evidence of contracts or LNG deliveries tied to U.S. suppliers at that time (WH 2026-02-12; USTR 2026-02-). Milestones and dates: Macedonian-side construction was set to begin in 2025 with an expected 22-month build, seeking completion in 2027; the project is financed by EIB/EBRD with WBIF support (Balkan Green Energy News 2025-05-08). The White House framework confirms the LNG linkage but does not provide a concrete delivery date (WH 2026-02-12). Reliability note: The policy linkage is documented by U.S. officials, while detailed project progress comes from regional energy coverage; final confirmation should come from Nomagas/DESFA updates and concrete LNG purchase records (WH 2026-02-12; Balkan Green Energy News 2025-05-08; USTR 2026-02-). Follow-up note: A concrete update would be warranted once completion occurs and LNG contracts or deliveries to North Macedonia are publicly reported, anticipated around 2027-03-01 if the 2027 completion target holds.
  15. Original article · Feb 12, 2026
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