Montenegro and US strengthen strategic ties during Senate visit

Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović met with US Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Dick Durbin to discuss strengthening bilateral relations, regional security in the Western Balkans, and Montenegro’s path toward EU membership. During the visit, Milatović awarded Senator Shaheen the Order of the Montenegrin Flag of the First Degree for her contributions to Montenegro’s NATO accession and democratic reforms.

The discussions focused on the Democracy and Prosperity Act for the Western Balkans, which aims to combat corruption, organized crime, and foreign influence while promoting economic development and cybersecurity. Additionally, officials addressed the Intergovernmental Agreement between Montenegro and the US regarding strategic projects in infrastructure, energy, and technology.

Parliamentary leaders also emphasized the importance of US cooperation in combating transnational organized crime. Speaker of Parliament Andrija Mandić highlighted the need for institutional partnerships to prevent the infiltration of drug clans and to strengthen the rule of law through enhanced cooperation between the Montenegrin Parliament and the US Congress.