President: Estonia stands by Montenegro as friend and ally

TALLINN - President Alar Karis confirmed Estonia's strong support for European Union enlargement during a meeting with Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović on Friday, highlighting the rapidly developing relationship between the two countries, particularly in the areas of e-government development and cybersecurity.

"Estonia stands by Montenegro as a friend, NATO ally, and hopefully soon also as a European Union partner," Karis said. Estonia established diplomatic relations with Montenegro in 2006 as the first country, and it supports Montenegro's EU accession.

"We support Montenegro's goal of completing accession talks by 2026 and becoming the first Western Balkan country to join the EU by 2028. To this end, we will share our experiences in both implementing reforms and building an e-government," the president stated.

Karis emphasized the cooperation between the two countries in developing e-government and strengthening cybersecurity.

"We are confident that digital solutions improve government efficiency, create opportunities for businesses, and bring benefits to citizens. The Estonian e-Governance Academy has contributed to strengthening Montenegro's cybersecurity, and we will continue this effort," he said.

The president also praised Montenegro for supporting Ukraine and emphasized that such support must continue.

"Montenegro's alignment with the EU's Russia sanctions shows that we are united in countering Russia's aggression," he said.

The head of state commended Montenegro for contributing to regional security. Speaking about the upcoming NATO summit, he emphasized that all allies must increase defense spending, and Estonia will raise its defense spending to over 5 percent of GDP.

The Estonian president also met with Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister Filip Ivanović to discuss strengthening bilateral relations. During the meeting, Karis called for cooperation in education, artificial intelligence, and culture, and noted that the establishment of a flight connection between Tallinn and Tivat has already provided a positive boost for tourism cooperation.

In his meeting with Speaker of the Montenegrin parliament Andrija Mandić, Deputy Speaker Zdenka Popović, and members of the Montenegro-Estonia parliamentary friendship group, President Karis focused on EU accession and opportunities for educational cooperation under the AI Leap program. He mentioned that the friendship groups formed in both parliaments serve as a basis for strengthening inter-parliamentary ties.

Karis also visited Montenegro's Innovation Fund, where he spoke about Estonia as a digital country and introduced the AI Leap program. He also visited the government's cybersecurity center.