Published December 16,2024
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The NATO chief on Monday reaffirmed Montenegro‘s position inside the alliance whereas underscoring the rising threats the nation faces from Russia and different elsewhere.
“Montenegro faces consistent hybrid threats from Russian and foreign actors. Russia wants to create fear and undermine our support for Ukraine. This will not work,” Secretary General Mark Rutte advised reporters after a gathering with Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milojko Spajic at NATO Headquarters.
Rutte expressed gratitude for the Balkan nation’s contributions, stating, “We are generally very grateful for everything Montenegro is doing to support Ukraine so far, also through NATO’s comprehensive assistance package.”
He additional counseled Montenegro for its efforts to push for the implementation of selections made on the Washington summit, making certain Ukraine’s path towards NATO membership stays on monitor.
The ongoing risk posed by Russia, significantly by cyberattacks, disinformation, and political interference, was a key matter of dialogue.
Rutte stated Russia’s actions goal to destabilize NATO’s unity and undermine help for Ukraine, however expressed confidence in NATO’s resilience, stating, “This will not work.”
He additionally praised Montenegro for taking robust measures in opposition to hybrid threats, as the primary recipient of NATO’s counter-hybrid help workforce, and for becoming a member of NATO’s speedy response group.
NEED FOR UKRAINE AID AHEAD OF HARD WINTER
Stoltenberg burdened the significance of constant help for Ukraine, particularly because it faces one among its most tough winters for the reason that warfare started in 2022.
He urged all allies to satisfy their commitments made on the Washington summit this July, together with monetary pledges and army help.
“Ukraine needs our urgent support,” he concluded, talking simply weeks earlier than Donald Trump, a long-time critic of American support to NATO, is about to as soon as once more turn out to be US president.
Spajic stated, referring to the alliance’s protection funding guideline: “We are not only declarative in declarative terms a credible NATO partner, we are this year going to go over the threshold of 2% (of gross domestic product), as dear Mark has said.”
Montenegro, a NATO member for seven years, has contributed to varied NATO missions, together with in in Latvia, Bulgaria, and Kosovo, he reiterated.
He additionally confirmed the nation’s protection spending objectives, with plans to achieve a minimum of 2.1% to 2.3% of GDP by 2025.
He additionally reaffirmed Montenegro’s dedication to supporting Ukraine, saying: “Montenegro supports Ukraine and believes that NATO membership will be the ultimate guarantee for this nation as well.”
Spajic additionally highlighted Montenegro’s involvement in delivering army tools to Ukraine and its participation in NATO’s complete help bundle.
Source: www.anews.com.tr