Montenegro to Join NATO Mission to Train Ukrainian Troops

Montenegro’s Armed Forces will participate in NATO’s mission for security assistance and training of Ukrainian troops (NSATU).

Radio Slobodna Evropa reported the news.

On November 12, the Montenegrin parliament approved the decision – 44 members voted in favor, 5 against, and 2 abstained.

The decision is based on a proposal from the Council for Defense and Security, which was approved back on February 7.

However, its adoption in parliament was delayed due to resistance from part of the ruling coalition – in particular, the Democratic People’s Party (DNP), which feared a deterioration in relations with Russia.

“This can only further jeopardize our relations with the Russian Federation. It would be wiser to stay out of someone else’s conflicts,” DNP deputy Vladislav Bojović claimed.

As part of the NSATU mission, Montenegrin troops will participate in training Ukrainian units on the territory of NATO member states.

Defense Minister Dragan Krapović stated that the decision to continue supporting Ukraine was agreed upon at last year’s NATO summit in Washington, D.C.

This is the second mission to train Ukrainian troops that Montenegro has approved since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Previously, the parliament – after a nine-month delay – approved participation in the European Union’s EUMAM mission, which trains Ukrainian military units.

At the beginning of June, reports surfaced about Montenegro’s plans to start drone production in collaboration with a U.S. company, with the first batch intended for Ukraine.

At that time, it was planned that two American companies (BY Light Professional IT Services and 4WINDS LLC) and two Montenegrin companies (Tara Aerospace and Polimex) would be involved in drone production.