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Montenegro President Milo Dukanovic announced his country's intention to elevate political dialogue with Türkiye to a strategic level during a Saturday visit to Istanbul, emphasizing that "partnership with Türkiye is very important for us."
Dukanovic, who traveled to Istanbul to attend Montenegro's National Day celebrations, met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and expressed satisfaction with Türkiye's participation in the commemorative events.
"He also participated in Montenegro's National Day. We are very grateful for this gesture. I believe this is also an indication of Türkiye's sincere friendship toward Montenegro," Dukanovic told Anadolu Agency. "This is a continuation of a series of steps that both countries have taken so far."
The Montenegro president revealed plans for a strategic partnership memorandum that would establish a "high-level political dialogue council" between the two countries. He referenced his previous meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as laying groundwork for this agreement.
"Hopefully, as a result of this agreement that will be signed soon, when the Prime Minister of Montenegro (Milojko Spajic) comes to Türkiye on behalf of the Montenegro government, we will establish a joint formation, a high-level political dialogue council," Dukanovic explained. "This will be a great platform where many different issues between the two countries will be discussed and many important cooperation opportunities will be discussed and implemented."
Montenegro and Türkiye currently maintain an annual trade volume of approximately 200 million euros, but both countries have set an ambitious target of reaching 500 million euros in bilateral economic trade within the coming years.
"Türkiye is an important economic partner for Montenegro," Dukanovic noted, describing the goal as ambitious given Montenegro's size but "quite achievable and beneficial to both economies."
Türkiye has emerged as one of Montenegro's most significant foreign investors, with Dukanovic stating that Türkiye has been "the second most important annual investor in Montenegro" in recent years and "I believe it has reached number one as of this year."
The Montenegro president highlighted his country's major infrastructure development cycle, including road, railway, and highway construction projects. Several Turkish companies have shown interest in Montenegro's transportation and renewable energy sectors.
"There is currently a large infrastructure project being developed in Montenegro, a highway project connecting Montenegro to Serbia and from there to Central Europe," Dukanovic said. "According to the information I have received, several Turkish companies have also applied to the public tender opened on behalf of the Montenegro government."
Dukanovic emphasized the role of Montenegro's diaspora in Türkiye, estimating approximately 300,000 people of Montenegrin origin currently live in Türkiye as Turkish citizens, with most residing in Istanbul.
"I believe that the Montenegrin diaspora in Türkiye, that is, the Balkan diaspora, is an important natural bridge between the two countries," he said, noting that many have become successful businesspeople and participate in Turkish politics while maintaining family connections to Montenegro.
Both countries' NATO membership provides another foundation for cooperation. Dukanovic described Türkiye's role in the increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment as "very constructive," adding that this perception extends throughout the Western Balkans.
Montenegro aims to become a European Union member by 2028, with Dukanovic noting his country is "currently at the most advanced level regarding EU accession among all candidate countries."
The president praised Türkiye's role as "a fundamental supporter of stability in the Middle East region" and indicated both countries share similar views on reforming the United Nations system to better reflect current global dynamics.
"We all are part of this one world," Dukanovic concluded. "We want this world to be able to solve the humanitarian crisis, the climate change crisis, to address global problems more efficiently and effectively. And this is also an attitude we share with Türkiye."
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