Joint press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spajić, 26 January 2024.
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Prime Minister of Montenegro Milojko Spajić to NATO Headquarters. They discussed preparations for the upcoming Washington Summit and continued efforts to bolster the Alliance’s deterrence and defence.
The Secretary General outlined Montenegro’s contributions to Allied security, including deploying troops to multinational battlegroups in Bulgaria and Latvia. Montenegro also contributes to “building more effective and inclusive security forces” as a part of NATO’s training mission in Iraq, he added.
Mr Stoltenberg stressed Montenegro’s critical role in securing stability in the Western Balkans. He welcomed the Prime Minister’s strong commitments to reform, as well as Montenegro’s path to Euro-Atlantic integration. Condemning last year’s outbreaks of violence in Kosovo, the Secretary General highlighted NATO’s swift response, “deploying 1,000 additional troops and heavy armour.” He underscored that NATO is “committed to ensuring that KFOR continues to fulfil its UN mandate.”
The Secretary General also noted that NATO ambassadors will visit Sarajevo next week, calling this “a demonstration of strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina.”
On support for Ukraine, Mr Stoltenberg thanked Montenegro for its contributions through NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP) and urged Allies to continue stepping up support for Ukraine at this critical time.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Washington Summit, the Secretary General said “Sweden’s entry into NATO will make the whole Alliance stronger.” He thanked President Erdoğan for swiftly signing the recent ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership by the Turkish Grand National Assembly, “and I look forward to Hungary’s ratification as soon as the parliament reconvenes,” he said.
🗣 | NATO Secretary General:
Prime Minister Spajić,
Dear Mickey,
Welcome to NATO. It’s great to see you again and a pleasure to receive you here at the NATO Headquarters.
Montenegro is a highly valued NATO Ally.
You have deployed troops to our battlegroups in Bulgaria and Latvia,
helping to deter Russian aggression.
In Iraq, Montenegro is contributing to building more effective and inclusive security forces, as part of NATO’s training mission.
Montenegro also plays an important role in the Western Balkans,
A region of strategic importance to NATO,
which I visited last autumn.
So Prime Minister, I welcome your strong commitment to reforms and Montenegro’s path to full Euro-Atlantic integration.
This is even more important as stability in the broader region remains fragile.
Last year’s outbreaks of violence in Kosovo were unacceptable.
And NATO responded swiftly, deploying 1,000 additional troops and heavy armour.
We are committed to ensuring that KFOR continues to fulfil its UN mandate.
We also spoke about the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The North Atlantic Council – all 31 NATO Ambassadors – will visit Sarajevo next week.
A demonstration of strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
All political leaders must work to preserve unity.
This is crucial for the stability of the country and the region.
Russia’s war against Ukraine is nearing the two-year mark.
And I welcome Montenegro’s support for Ukraine, including through NATO’s comprehensive assistance package.
But NATO Allies and the European Union need to step up and provide even more funding for Ukraine at this critical time.
Because if President Putin wins in Ukraine, there is a real risk he will use force again.
Today we also discussed the preparations for our next Summit in Washington in July, and our work to bolster NATO’s deterrence and defence.
Sweden’s entry into NATO will make the whole Alliance stronger.
So I welcome this week’s vote by the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye to ratify Sweden’s NATO membership.
And I thank President Erdogan for his swift signature of the decision.
I also welcome this week’s clear message of support from Prime Minister Orban and his government.
I look forward to Hungary’s ratification as soon as the parliament reconvenes.
So Prime Minister, once again, thank you for coming here.
And thank you for your strong support for our transatlantic Alliance.
Please.
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