Governor Mills Attends Maine National Guard Training Exercise with Montenegro Military

Governor Mills, Major General Dunn, Maine Guardsmen attend celebration of 20^th anniversary of partnership between Maine and Montenegro

Zabljak, MONTENEGRO - Today, Governor Janet Mills and Major General Diane Dunn viewed 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 a 20th 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.

"For 20 years, Maine and Montenegro have trained side-by-side, learning to navigate challenging mountain terrain, to confront dangerously cold weather conditions, and to defend the safety and security of our regions, and, in doing so, sharpening our forces and strengthening our futures," said Governor Mills. "I was proud to witness the capabilities of our partners at the culmination of Common Challenge 2026 on the high peaks of Pilitor Mountain, and I'm honored to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of this critical partnership with Maine Guardsmen, U.S. Embassy leaders, and Montenegrin leaders."

"I am incredibly proud of how this partnership has grown over the past 20 years-from our early exchanges to the enduring friendships, professional development, and operational capabilities we have built together today," said Major General Dunn. "This anniversary is not only a celebration of what we have accomplished over the past two decades, but also an opportunity to look ahead with confidence and excitement about the possibilities that await us in the years to come."

Governor Mills and General Dunn arrived in Montenegro Tuesday afternoon, where members of the Maine National Guard are participating in Common Challenge 2026, a multinational mountain training exercise focused on strengthening interoperability, readiness, and cooperation among partner nations. That evening, they had dinner with U.S. Embassy Podgorica Chargé d'affaires A.I. Michael Keays and members of the Maine National Guard.

On Wednesday, Governor Mills 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.

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.

The Governor's Office will continue to share updates and photos from the Governor's visit to Montenegro over the coming days. The Governor will return to Maine over the weekend.