Today (18 May 2021), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with President Milo Đukanović of Montenegro at NATO Headquarters. They exchanged views on the security situation in the Western Balkans and preparations for next month’s NATO Summit.
“Montenegro is a valued Ally, making important contributions to Euro-Atlantic security,” the NATO Secretary General said. “You provide financial support to the Afghan Security Forces; you contribute to NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, building stability in the Western Balkans; and I welcome that Montenegro is increasing its defence spending; all of these contributions make our Alliance stronger and safer,” he added.
He also emphasized NATO’s continued support to Montenegro, for instance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic – through the provision of “essential medical supplies, including ventilators from NATO’s new medical stockpile” – and in keeping the country’s airspace safe through a NATO air policing mission “with jets from Italy and from Greece.”
The Secretary General emphasised that the NATO 2030 initiative to prepare the Alliance for the future “is at the heart of the NATO Summit in June.” “We must reinforce our defence and deterrence, broaden our approach to security and work with partners to protect the rules-based international order, and I welcome Montenegro’s support in this process,” he stressed.