NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg commended Montenegro for its contributions to Euro-Atlantic security during a joint press conference with Montenegro’s President Milo Djukanovic - marking one year since Montenegro’s accession to NATO - on Monday 4 June.

“Montenegro’s accession has helped promote stability in the Western Balkans because security promotes prosperity; and it has contributed to Euro-Atlantic security,” Mr. Stoltenberg said. “Thank you for committing to increase the number of troops in our training mission in Afghanistan. I also welcome that you are increasing defence spending, with a clear plan to invest 2% of GDP in defence by 2024; so Montenegro is proving to be a very solid and very reliable member of the Alliance,” the NATO Secretary General added.

Mr. Stoltenberg also said that tomorrow (5 June 2018) will see the launch of a NATO Air Policing Mission over Montenegro. “Just as Montenegro is stepping up for NATO, NATO is stepping up for Montenegro. NATO is a defensive Alliance. We protect all Allies against any threat. So tomorrow, NATO will begin air policing patrols over Montenegro, with jets from Italy and Greece. This peacetime mission will ensure the safety of your skies, whether from civilian or military aircraft in distress, or any other threat. NATO provides this support to Allies without their own air forces – a strong sign of NATO solidarity,” he said.