Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Bečić held a meeting in Washington at the Pentagon with Major General Timothy Rieger, who is the Acting Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau. The meeting also included Brigadier General Timothy Brower, Deputy Director for Strategy, Policy, Plans and International Affairs; Brigadier General Diane Dunn, Adjutant General of the Maine National Guard; Robert Riley, Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the U.S. National Guard at the U.S. Department of State; Colonel Andrew Chilcoat, Chief of the International Affairs Division (J5); James Mina, Country Director for Greece and the Balkans in the European and NATO Policy Office in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; and Major Patrick Rand, State Partnership Program director for the Maine National Guard.

The discussions revolved around topics such as Euro-Atlantic partnership, defense modernization, bilateral cooperation, and regional stability.

Deputy Prime Minister Bečić emphasized that the European and Euro-Atlantic path is essential for Montenegro’s security, stability, and future. He noted that Montenegro was among 23 out of 32 NATO member states that aimed to allocate 2% of its GDP to defense last year and reiterated the country’s commitment to advance in this area per the U.S. President’s recommendations.

Bečić mentioned Montenegro’s defense enhancements, including the acquisition of two patrol vessels from France, with one already under construction, aimed at bolstering the Montenegrin Navy’s capabilities and contributing to the collective security of the Adriatic region.

He highlighted the significance of Montenegro’s nearly two-decade partnership with Maine and extended an invitation to Pentagon officials to visit Montenegro to acknowledge this milestone.

The Deputy Prime Minister expressed profound gratitude for the U.S. support in enhancing logistics and operational capabilities, personnel training, cybersecurity improvement, completed joint projects, the recent procurement of patrol boats, and upgrades to the coastal surveillance system.

Furthermore, Bečić pointed out that Montenegro has confirmed indictments or verdicts against several former high-ranking officials from the previous regime, including two heads of the judiciary, both the Chief and Special Prosecutor, two Police Directors, the Director of the National Security Agency, and the Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency, as well as numerous other public officials facing various criminal charges.

Bečić stated that Montenegro is clearly demonstrating that no one is above the law and that the rule of law is a fundamental principle of this Government.

Major General Timothy Rieger lauded Bečić’s commitment, stating, “We deeply appreciate everything you are doing to strengthen ground forces, cybersecurity, and the capabilities of the Montenegrin Armed Forces. Your dedication is evident, Mr. Bečić, and I hope it continues. Your contribution to regional stability and the fight against organized crime is highly commendable.”