Radević: Vuksanović is trying to hide Milatović's responsibility for not holding Defense and Security Council sessions

State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense Sandra Radević announced that the advisor to the President of Montenegro, Nebojša Vukanović, is trying to hide President Milatović's responsibility for not holding sessions of the Defense and Security Council and is addressing it to the two remaining members.

She said this in response to the statements of the advisor to the President of Montenegro for domestic policy and economic development, Nebojša Vuksanović, who, among other things, said that sessions of the Defense and Security Council are not being held, even though this is a real need.

"Extremely incorrect and untrue, because the Council session of December 24, 2025 was interrupted and postponed by Mr. Milatović himself. Mr. Mandić and Mr. Spajić were at the table and clearly communicated that they were ready to vote on all decisions on the agenda, including the participation of army units in international exercises and training for 2026. Due to the extremely inappropriate actions of President Milatović, today the Montenegrin Army, the Ministry of Defense, the entire defense system, and even the state of Montenegro, are suffering enormous reputational, political and other damage," Radević said in a statement.

She added that they have communicated to the public several times what kind of damage will occur precisely because of President Milatović's decision to suspend and postpone the Council session.

"Today, his advisor, Mr. Vuksanović, laments the fact that certain officers are being appointed as acting officers in vacant formation positions. He mentions some anomalies, overlapping powers of the 'National Security Council!?' (probably referring to the Defense and Security Council) and the Ministry of Defense and specifically mentions the 'inadequate use of the institution of acting officer'. We remind Advisor Vuksanović, but also President Milatović, that currently there are about 20 percent of vacant positions in the formation of the Army of Montenegro. Out of two thousand filled positions, 60 officers are currently designated as acting officers in vacant formation positions. Of these 60 officers, the procedure before the Defense and Security Council for their appointment has been initiated for 58 officers, namely, for 3 officers in 2023, for 9 in 2024, and for 46 officers in 2025. If these decisions had been adopted at the Council session that President Milatović interrupted, today we would have only 2 officers in the status of acting officer in the entire composition of the Army of Montenegro, whose number is measured in thousands. We have another 16 officers in the system who, in addition to their own, also perform an additional duty in the status of acting officers", she emphasized Radevic.

Radević also said that, in addition, the airmen of the Montenegrin Army would participate in the planned international air exercise in Greece and would not, through his fault, miss the opportunity to improve interoperability with allies and additional training of crews for complex tasks.

She also said that it is clear that for the "inadequate use of the VD institute", as she says, advisor Vuksanović calls it, President Milatović is solely responsible.

"All in all, it would be better for Advisor Vuksanović to advise his boss to find a way and enable the participation of units of the Army of Montenegro in planned international activities in 2026, as well as to show responsibility when it comes to the huge number of appointments, promotions and dismissals of around 150 members of the Army of Montenegro whose fate is currently in his desk drawer. He can do this with a stroke of the pen and a signature on the relevant decisions whenever he wishes, which has always been the practice. PS The public is still waiting for answers to questions regarding the affair that took place in the President's office, which seriously questions both the integrity of the cabinet and the integrity of President Milatović himself," concluded Radević.