(Image source from: The Gulf Today)

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is condemning Russian efforts to use its money and influence to build opposition to an approaching vote in Macedonia that could pave the way for the country to join NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) - a move Moscow opposes.

Mattis tells reporters traveling with him to Skopje that there is "no doubt" that Moscow has been funding pro-Russian groups in order to defeat the referendum on a name change later this month.

Macedonians will ballot September 30 on whether to approve the new name of North Macedonia is an effort to placate Greece, which has blocked Macedonia's path to NATO and the European Union. Any progress toward NATO membership by Macedonia is strongly opposed by Russia, which does not want the alliance to spread out to areas formerly under Moscow's influence.

By Sowmya Sangam