Maintaining and strengthening credible membership in NATO is not only the task of the Ministry of Defense, but of the entire country, Minister of Defense Dragan Krapović announced today.
He stated in the statement that the Government of Montenegro has several foreign policy priorities.
"Credible NATO membership is one of the key, if not the key, factors in the current geopolitical circumstances," Krapović emphasized.
"When we talk about Montenegro's credibility in NATO, let's not measure it only through percentages, but through presence, through political stability, through strategic reliability and through commitment to reforms. And in these fields, Montenegro is not lagging behind, but leading the way," Krapović emphasized.
He added that "when it comes to budget allocations, it is true that we are not among the countries that invest the most in absolute numbers."
"But it is also true that, within our capabilities, we have fulfilled what is the key requirement of the Alliance - which is that more than 20% of the total defense budget goes to modernization. Montenegro crossed that threshold a long time ago. Last year, 30%. This year, even more. Let me remind you, last year the Ministry of Defense contracted the largest modernization project since the formation of the Montenegrin Army, the purchase of two patrol ships. And what is perhaps even more important: we contracted trust," said Krapović.
He stated that "aware of the importance and need for increased defense allocations, the Ministry of Defense remains maximally committed to the implementation of all initiated and future projects, the implementation of goals and priorities from the Euro-Atlantic agenda, as well as meeting our national needs."
"The previous statements by NATO allies are not enough, new challenges and geostrategic developments require a different dynamic, and as I emphasized, the Ministry of Defense is maximally dedicated to the implementation of the current and capital budget for defense needs. However, maintaining and strengthening credible membership in the Alliance is not the task of only the Ministry of Defense, but of the entire state, and it is necessary that all relevant addresses understand and accept the priorities I spoke about, and that we approach their implementation together, synergistically and without delay," said Krapović.
According to him, as a NATO member, Montenegro has not only benefits, but also certain responsibilities, and accordingly, it must equally bear its share of the burden, and today this is more important than ever.
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