In the budget for 2025, the government planned to borrow 75 million euros for the procurement of equipment and funds for the needs of the Army of Montenegro (ACG) in order to meet the capability goals set by the NATO alliance, of which the country is a member.
In the budget proposal for 2025, which is in the parliamentary procedure, it is written that the creditor for the mentioned debts will be determined during the next year.
The document states that in 2020, NATO delivered a "Blue book" containing 37 capabilities assigned to Montenegro, which defined priority capabilities and units for contribution to the collective security system.
"The assigned goals and declared forces represent the minimum quantitative and qualitative capabilities that the member must achieve in order to evenly share the burden. Any failure to achieve the capability goal or prolongation of its realization must be compensated by another member or defined as an acceptable risk. Therefore, equipping and modernizing the units in order to fulfill the assigned capacity goals is of the greatest importance," the budget proposal reads, in the part that refers to the expenditures of consumer units that are financed from loans, which are generally paid back over several years.
Montenegro has been a member of NATO since 2017. Obligations arising from membership in that military-political alliance include allocating 2,02 percent of gross domestic product for defense annually.
The debt of 75 million euros, as explained in the budget proposal, will refer to the purchase of two helicopters (up to 50 million euros), then the anti-armor system "Spike" (up to 25 million euros), special purpose military vehicles (up to 15 million euros), individual and collective equipment for chemical-biological-radiological-nuclear defense (HBRN) (up to five million), armored engineering machines and vehicles (up to five million), as well as military logistics vehicles (up to 25 million).
In the budget proposal, it is stated that the planned acquisition of two helicopters for the Army with accompanying equipment, weapons and spare parts, including the necessary management training.
"Based on the current market research, the estimated value for the procurement of helicopters would amount to around 50 million euros," the proposal reads.
"Spike" brings numerous benefits
The Government believes that the acquisition of the anti-tank system "Spike", which uses optical guidance and can be launched from various platforms, including infantry units, vehicles and helicopters, would bring numerous benefits for the Army in modern military operations, precisely because of its high accuracy and range.
It can, as stated, serve as an effective way to deter potential threats in conventional and low-intensity combat conditions, and improve military interoperability with allies in the event of joint operations or military exercises.
They remind that the procurement of this system was planned in the budget for this year, but that it was not realized because there was not enough money.
"The newly planned amount of 25 million euros includes the entire systems, which include launch units, training, logistical support and other necessary components for the functioning of the system," it was explained.
Through the procurement of special purpose military vehicles, as explained, special vehicles for the transport of engineering machines and armored vehicles (so-called "tractor trains"), vehicles with special cabins for the installation of communication systems (radio-relay and network devices and systems) would be provided. , firefighting vehicles of general and special military use, vehicles with superstructures of mobile workshops and combined multipurpose vehicles.
"All vehicles of this type, which are currently in use in the Army, are over 40 years old, and at the same time have expired resources, and are necessary for the development of the required capabilities of the Army, but also for the fulfillment of assigned missions and international obligations," the proposal reads. budget.
The Government notes that individual and collective equipment for chemical-biological-radiological-nuclear (HBRN) defense is extremely important for the needs of the Army, especially considering that the Army does not have these means or the existing resources have expired. They add that this ability of the Army is important for the protection of the civilian population, bearing in mind that the Army is the only institution in the country that can provide support in this regard.
"The acquisition of the mentioned equipment and its use is also significant due to the involvement of the Army in international missions and operations," they stated.
Armored engineering machines and vehicles are, as explained, necessary to support the Army units in the processes of building road communications, blocking them, building fortification facilities, forcing water obstacles, as well as other engineering support activities.
The proposal states that the Army has a negligible number of engineering machines for engagement in the country, while there are no armored engineering machines and other accompanying engineering means at all.
They are negotiating with Italy about the acquisition of logistics vehicles
The procurement of military logistics vehicles was foreseen in the budget for this year, and negotiations are underway with the Italian Ministry of Defense regarding the procurement worth 20 million euros.
"However, there is a possibility that the procurement will not be completed until the end of 2024, so it is necessary to plan a credit arrangement. According to information from the Ministry of Defense of Italy and their industrial suppliers, it is necessary to increase the amount for 2025, which is caused by a certain increase in prices on the market compared to 2024," the Government document explained.
The budget of the Ministry of Defense for the next year has increased by almost 900 thousand euros compared to this year - to 78.752.151 euros.
The budget for the next year will allocate around 53,7 million euros (100 thousand more) for the Army of Montenegro, while the amount for NATO operations has increased by almost two million euros - to 3,4 million.
343.526 euros are earmarked for EU missions, and 119.299 euros for United Nations missions.
About 1,7 million euros have been earmarked for exercises and training, 7,4 million euros for equipping and modernizing the infrastructure of the Army and the Ministry of Defense, and 3,3 million euros for intelligence and security affairs.
Two ships worth 120 million were included in the budget
The budget for the following year included the purchase of two patrol boats for the needs of the Army, worth 120 million euros.
This procurement is provided for in the agreement signed with France and adopted in parliament in September.
The agreement was criticized by some military experts, claiming that the price of 120 million for two ships is an expensive investment.
The budget states that two patrol boats of 55-70 meters in length will be procured.
"The goal is that by acquiring these ships, which would be equipped with shipboard systems for combat at sea, all aspects of warfare related to this category of ships will be solved in the long term (20 plus years). With the autonomy of a few weeks, they would be ready for a longer stay at sea, both nationally and as part of the NATO naval forces," the budget proposal states.
Increased stay at sea would, as it is added, enable complete data collection (air, surface and underwater) in order to protect critical infrastructure at sea (oil platforms), ensure free navigation and guarantee maritime safety in the territorial waters of Montenegro.
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