Milatović: Rutte's visit carries a clear message about the strategic importance of the Western Balkans for NATO

The visit of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte carries a clear message about the strategic importance of the Western Balkans for NATO and the message that Montenegro acts as a responsible and credible ally in NATO, Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović announced today.

The Public Relations Office of the President of Montenegro announced that Milatović and Rute held a joint lecture and discussion with students at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Podgorica on the topic "Transatlantic Security and the Western Balkans: the Role of NATO and the Contribution of Montenegro".

"The Secretary General's visit carries a clear message about the strategic importance of the Western Balkans for the Alliance and the message that Montenegro acts as a responsible and credible ally in NATO," said Milatović.

The Public Relations Office of the President of Montenegro said that the address emphasized that modern security is not limited to military capacities, but rather encompasses institutions, the economy, infrastructure, cyberspace, media and education, and that it is important for young people to understand what it means to belong to an alliance based on values, trust and shared responsibility.

"It was particularly emphasized that the Western Balkans must not be treated as a secondary topic of European security, because the vacuum is always filled by instability, organized crime, disinformation and malign influences. It was assessed that Montenegro's membership in NATO since 2017 has strengthened not only the security of our country, but also the stability of the entire Western Balkans. It was pointed out that the reliability of allies is measured by actions, investments and contribution to common security. The level of defense spending and investments in equipment was discussed, as well as the engagement of members of the Montenegrin Army in international missions and activities, with the conclusion that the size of a state is not measured by territory, but by the willingness to take on part of common responsibility," the statement reads.

The Public Relations Office of the President of Montenegro said that they discussed the importance of cybersecurity and the fight against hybrid threats, recalling that Podgorica hosts the Western Balkans Cyber ​​Capabilities Center, which positions Montenegro as a regional hub for training, knowledge exchange, and capability development.

"In this context, it was concluded that the future of NATO is made up of young people, including young people from Montenegro, and that they are key in strengthening digital literacy, trust in institutions and resistance to disinformation. Both interlocutors assessed that the NATO Youth Summit held in Montenegro last year was a great success and a strong message to discuss security with the generation that will live with the consequences of decisions made today. It was also stated that NATO and the EU are interconnected topics, and that credibility in the Alliance strengthens our European path, with the assessment that Montenegro is one step away from membership in the European Union," said the Public Relations Office of the President of Montenegro.