Governor Mills Concludes Visit to Commemorate 20th Anniversary of Maine-Montenegro Partnership

Podgorica, MONTENEGRO - Governor Janet Mills today concluded her visit to Montenegro to commemorate the 20^thAnniversary of the Maine-Montenegro National Guard State Partnership.

During her visit, Governor Mills, joined by Major General Diane Dunn, held bilateral talks with Montenegrin top leaders, observed a tactical military demonstration with the Montenegrin military, and met with Maine National Guardsmen, including members of the National Guard participating in Common Challenge 2026, a multinational mountain training exercise focused on strengthening interoperability, readiness, and cooperation among partner nations.

"For the last two decades, Maine and Montenegro have partnered together to heighten our tactical operability, strengthen our security, and better our communities, and over the last few days, I've learned we also share a unique landscape of rocky coasts and tree-lined mountains, a dedication to education and the next generation, and a strong sense of place that bring us even closer together," said Governor Mills. "It was an honor to join Maine Guardsmen in Montenegro to observe their hard work, and to meet with Montenegrin leaders, military members, and citizens to share our common goals, trade knowledge, and to learn more about one another. The 20-year partnership between our two communities has strengthened both sides tremendously, and I look forward to the future of this friendship."

Governor Mills and Major General Dunn arrived in Montenegro Tuesday afternoon and had dinner with Maine Guardsmen and U.S. Embassy Podgorica Chargé d'affaires A.I. Michael Keays.

On Wednesday, Governor Mills met with U.S. Embassy leaders and staff. She then held bilateral talks in the nation's capital city with President Jakov Milatović, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimović, and Defense Minister Dragan Krapovic to discuss defense cooperation, readiness, economic and educational collaboration, and the future of the 20-year partnership.

On Thursday, Governor Mills and Major General Dunn observed a tactical military demonstration on a mountain in Zabljak, Montenegro. The demonstration came at the end of Common Challenge 2026, a joint Maine National Guard and Montenegrin military exercise focused on strengthening joint tactical capabilities, readiness, and operability.

In the evening, Governor Mills and Major General Dunn, along with Maine Guardsmen, U.S. Embassy officials, and Montenegrin leaders, attended the 20^th Anniversary Celebration of the National Guard State Partnership between Maine and Montenegro. The Governor was joined by Montenegro's Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Bečić, Defense Minister Dragan Krapović, and Chief of Defense Brigadier General Miodrag Vuksanovic.

On Friday, Governor Mills met with Marash Dukaj, Minister of Public Administration, and Samir Orahovac, Acting Director of the Cybersecurity Agency of Montenegro, to discuss Maine and Montenegro's joint capabilities and cybersecurity defense. That evening, the Governor attended dinner with Major General Dunn and members of the Maine National Guard. To commemorate the anniversary and celebrate 20 years of successful partnership, Governor Mills formally proclaimed September 17^th as Montenegro-Maine Partnership Day.

Maine's partnership with Montenegro was established in 2006 through a bilateral affairs agreement between the U.S. Department of Defense, the State of Maine, and the Government of Montenegro. Through the National Guard State Partnership Program, 54 U.S. states and territories are linked with one or more nations to collaborate on military, security, and disaster response capacities.

In June 2006, Montenegro formally declared independence from Serbia. Just six months later, the Balkan nation joined the National Guard State Partnership program, establishing a formal partnership agreement with Maine. In addition to regular joint training exercises, Maine and Montenegro have stepped up to help each other - including Montenegrin soldiers traveling to Maine to assist with engineering projects, and Maine Guardsmen traveling to Montenegro to aid in response to cyberattacks. Montenegro has been a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since 2017.

Governor Mills will return to Maine over the weekend.