Governor Mills Arrives in Montenegro to Commemorate 20th Anniversary of National Guard Partnership

Governor Mills and Major General Dunn will visit Maine guardsmen participating in multinational training exercise

Podgorica, MONTENEGRO – Governor Janet Mills arrived today in Podgorica, Montenegro, where she and Maine Major General Diane Dunn will commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the National Guard State Partnership between Maine and Montenegro.

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.

Over the coming days, Governor Mills and Major General Dunn will meet with 30 Maine National Guardsmen who are currently in Montenegro for Common Challenge 2026, a multinational mountain training exercise focused on strengthening interoperability, readiness, and cooperation among partner nations. They will also participate in bilateral talks with key Montenegrin government and defense leaders.

“Over the last two decades, soldiers from Maine and Montenegro have stood shoulder to shoulder to improve the safety and security of people from Presque Isle to Podgorica,” said Governor Mills. “I look forward to meeting with leaders in Montenegro this week to celebrate this extraordinary partnership and ensure it remains strong for decades to come.”

“For 20 years, the State Partnership Program between Maine and Montenegro has demonstrated the strength that comes from shared values, mutual trust, and a commitment to readiness,” said Major General Dunn. “Through training, exchanges, and joint exercises, our soldiers and airmen have built lasting relationships that have strengthened our forces and our communities. We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone as we look ahead to many more opportunities for collaboration.”

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 release updates and photos from the Governor’s visit to Montenegro over the coming days. The Governor will return to Maine over the weekend.

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