Krapović at the Summit on Defense and Space

The minister emphasized that the European and Euro-Atlantic communities are facing very complex security challenges and threats, which increasingly take on the character of hybrid actions, and this has not bypassed Montenegro and the Western Balkans region. He added that the complexity of current geopolitical circumstances is the reason why NATO, the EU, and like-minded partners should work on strengthening unity, cohesion, and capacities to protect the international order based on rules. He welcomed the efforts of the European Union to strengthen the defense dimension, noting that these are complementary to the activities carried out by NATO as the bearer of collective security. He expressed full commitment of Montenegro to implement reform processes on the way to full membership in the European Union, as well as in implementing key decisions from the NATO agenda. Speaking about the security of the Western Balkans, the minister noted that the region is always susceptible to destabilization, mainly due to insufficient social and institutional maturity, as well as ethnic, cultural, and economic divisions that still burden this area. The minister said that the Montenegrin government is continuously working to strengthen national capacities to counter hybrid influence, which is expected to intensify during the election year, especially as Montenegro advances on its European path.