Shekerinska, 52, will take up the post later this year, replacing Romania's Mircea Geoana.

"She is a true believer in NATO, knows the work it takes to join the Alliance, and what it means to be a full member," NATO chief Mark Rutte said in a statement.

A former deputy prime minister for European integration, Shekerinska also served as North Macedonia's defence minister in the lead-up to the Balkan country joining NATO in 2020.

She will become the second woman to hold the position after Rose Gottemoeller of the United States, who served in the role between 2016 and 2019.