General Rieger: Bečić’s contribution to regional stability and fight against crime highly commendable

Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Bečić met in Washington at the Pentagon with Major General Timothy Rieger, Acting Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau. The meeting was also attended by Brigadier General Timothy Brower, Deputy Director for Strategy, Policy, Plans and International Affairs; Brigadier General Diane Dunn, Adjutant General of the Maine National Guard; Robert Riley, Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to U.S. National Guard at the U.S. Department of State; Colonel Andrew Chilcoat, Chief of the International Affairs Division (J5); James Mina, Country Director for Greece and the Balkans in the European and NATO Policy Office in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; and Major Patrick Rand, State Partnership Program director for the Maine National Guard.

The talks focused on Euro-Atlantic partnership, defense modernization, bilateral cooperation, and regional stability.

The European and Euro-Atlantic path is the foundation of Montenegro’s security, stability, and future, stated Deputy Prime Minister Bečić. He recalled that Montenegro is among 23 of the 32 NATO member states that planned to allocate 2% of GDP to defense last year and emphasized that Montenegro remains committed to progressing in this area in line with the recommendations of the President of the United States.

Bečić highlighted Montenegro’s defense upgrades, including the procurement of two patrol vessels from France—one of which is already under construction—enhancing the capabilities of the Montenegrin Navy and contributing to the collective security of the Adriatic.

He underscored the importance of Montenegro’s nearly two-decade-long partnership with the state of Maine and invited Pentagon officials to visit Montenegro in honor of this milestone.

The Deputy Prime Minister expressed deep gratitude for the long-standing U.S. support in strengthening logistics and operational capabilities, personnel training, cybersecurity development, completed joint projects, recent acquisition of patrol boats, and upgrades to the coastal surveillance system.

Bečić also pointed out that Montenegro has confirmed indictments or verdicts against former top-ranking officials from the previous system—including two heads of the judiciary, both the Chief and Special Prosecutor, two Police Directors, the Director of the National Security Agency, and the Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency, among many other former public officials facing charges for various criminal offenses.

Montenegro is clearly demonstrating that no one is untouchable and that the rule of law is not merely declarative, but a core principle of this Government, Bečić stated.

We deeply appreciate everything you are doing to strengthen ground forces, cybersecurity, and the capabilities of the Montenegrin Armed Forces. Your commitment is evident, Mr. Bečić, and I hope it continues. Your contribution to regional stability and the fight against organized crime is highly commendable, Major General Timothy Rieger praised Bečić’s dedication.