Krapović: The Largest International Military Exercise 'COMMON CHALLENGE 26' Completed

More than 500 members of the armed forces of Montenegro, the USA, Austria, Slovenia, Spain, and North Macedonia participated in the mountain warfare exercise. On the Day of High Officials and the final demonstration of participants' capabilities at Pirlitor, the international mountain warfare exercise 'Common Challenge 26' (CC26), the largest such exercise held in Montenegro to date, concluded. The Day of High Officials was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro for security, defense, crime fight, and internal policy, Aleksa Bečić; Minister of Defense Dragan Krapović; Chief of the General Staff of the Montenegrin Army, Brigadier General Miodrag Vuksanović; Governor of the U.S. state of Maine, Janet Trafton Mills; Maine National Guard Commander, Brigadier General Dajan Dun; military attachés, diplomatic corps representatives, and other guests. Speaking on the importance of international cooperation, Bečić stated that joint training contributes to greater readiness and capability of the armed forces to respond to challenges that transcend individual countries, expressing gratitude to all participants for the successful execution of the exercise and safe completion of all tasks. Defense Minister Dragan Krapović assessed that 'Common Challenge 26' demonstrated much more than just testing procedures and mountain warfare capabilities; it was a demonstration of joint readiness for planning, action, and response in conditions requiring high levels of interoperability and mutual trust. He particularly highlighted the role of the Air Force and rescue teams of the Montenegrin Army in search and rescue operations, emphasizing that the experiences gained during the exercise have broader significance beyond military skill development, as they further strengthen the Army's capacity to support institutions and citizens when help is most needed. The successful realization of 'Common Challenge 26' further enhanced the joint operational capabilities of Montenegro's armed forces, allied and partner countries, confirming the importance of international cooperation and joint training for developing national capabilities and readiness to respond to the challenges of the modern security environment.