Joint press statement

President Đukanović, dear Milo,

Welcome back to the NATO Headquarters.

It is always a great pleasure to meet with you. And we just finished a very interesting meeting where we covered a wide range of issues which are of great importance for Montenegro and for NATO.

And let me start by congratulating you on the third anniversary of Montenegro’s accession to the Alliance.

NATO membership has been good for your security, and for your prosperity.
Since joining NATO, investment in your country by other Allies has more than doubled.

Being part of the NATO family has also helped Montenegro through the pandemic.
Allies have provided you with support, including medical supplies, airlift, and financial assistance.

And the security challenges we faced before COVID-19 have not gone away.
NATO will continue to ensure this health crisis does not become a security crisis.

Our forces remain ready and vigilant.

During this pandemic, both state and non-state actors have used disinformation and propaganda to try to undermine our Alliance and our democracies.

In NATO we have worked together to identify, expose, and counter disinformation.

Those who try to divide us will not succeed.

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Montenegro continues to be a highly valued Ally which contributes to Euro-Atlantic security.
Including with your presence in NATO’s KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo; our multinational battlegroup in Latvia; and our training mission in Afghanistan.

Just as NATO can count on Montenegro, Montenegro can count on NATO.  

NATO air policing ensures your skies are safe, with jets from Italy and Greece.

And through a Trust Fund, we are helping to destroy surplus ammunition in Montenegro.

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President Đukanović, 
NATO and Montenegro have achieved a lot during the last three years.

And I look forward to continuing to work together with you.
So once again welcome, it is a great pleasure to have you here and you have the floor.