The Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias Visits Montenegro

The Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias Visits Montenegro

June 30, 2026

The Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, conducted today, Tuesday 30 June 2026, an official visit to Montenegro, where he met with his counterpart, Dragan Krapovič.

During their private meeting and extended talks, which took place in the Montenegro Defence Ministry in Podgorica, the two Ministers talked about the situation in the wider region, the need for Europe's strategic autonomy and the further strengthening of the defence relations between Greece and Montenegro.

Mr Dendias made also mention of the significance Greece attributes to the European perspective of the Western Balkans.

After the end of the meeting and during the joint statements, the Greek Minister stated the following:

"It is a great pleasure to be in Podgorica today. The President of the Hellenic Republic was here, the Greek Prime Minister was here, the Greek Foreign Minister was here. Today I am here. Maybe you have grown tired of having Greeks visiting Podgorica, but believe me, we are very happy to do so.

As you know, we vehemently support Montenegro's European perspective. We are also very happy that accession negotiations, including the completion of further negotiating chapters, took place in June. We will be happy to witness Montenegro join our European family, the European Union, as soon as possible.

Greece, through the "Thessaloniki Agenda", supports the accession of the Balkans and especially the Western Balkans in the European Union. We believe that it constitutes an investment not just for prosperity, but also stability and security. Europe cannot be stable and secure, if the Western Balkans are not part of it. We cannot allow the existence of "holes" in this European architecture.

Therefore, Greece wholeheartedly supports Montenegro's EU accession perspective. We are partners already, we cooperate in NATO. Furthermore, there is extended cooperation between our Armed Forces, especially in the field of training, but in other fields as well.

During my visit, I had the opportunity to explain to you and to Montenegro's military leadership, the new effort regarding the reformation of the Hellenic Armed Forces, which we call "Agenda 2030". As I told you and explained during our meeting, we are very happy to share it with you. To share what we do and why we do it. We also consider it an investment for our existing cooperation within the NATO framework, as well as our future cooperation within the EU. We believe that security within Europe constitutes a joint effort.

There are challenges arising from states, but also from various malicious actors. Therefore, if we don't cooperate, our societies and countries will not be safe.

I had the opportunity to also explain to you what we are doing with the innovation ecosystem we are trying to establish, through the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation (HCDI). Once more, we are completely willing to cooperate with you on this issue.

I won't take must of your time. I have to say, besides thanking you for today's productive and constructive talks, that I am certain that the cooperation between Greece and Montenegro will keep developing and this will be beneficial for our two countries, our societies, as well as the stability and prosperity in Europe.

I will be glad to receive you in Athens. Once more, thank you for your warm hospitality! Thank you".