Montenegro and the United States of America have signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the implementation of strategic projects, including in the energy sector.
The intergovernmental agreement between the governments of Montenegro and the United States of America on cooperation in the implementation of strategic projects was signed in Washington by Minister of Public Works Majda Adžović and Caleb Orr, Assistant Secretary at the Department of State’s Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs.
The agreement represents another step in strengthening cooperation between the USA and countries in Southeast Europe.
About ten days ago, Serbia and the USA inked a memorandum of understanding on energy infrastructure and regional energy security, kicking off their bilateral strategic dialogue. Earlier, in mid-April, North Macedonia and the USA signed a memorandum of understanding on improving the security of natural gas supply. All three countries are interested in importing liquefied natural gas (LNG), from the US.
A special focus on infrastructure, energy, security, and technology
According to Montenegro’s ministry, the signing of the agreement represents a major step forward in the further development of strong, friendly, and allied relations between Montenegro and the US. It also confirms a shared commitment to a partnership that delivers concrete and long-term results, they added.
Future cooperation is set to focus on implementing strategic projects, contributing to Montenegro’s overall socio-economic development, infrastructure modernization, and the enhancement of the state’s security and technological capacities, the update reads.
A special focus will be on projects in infrastructure, energy, security, and technology, the ministry added. In this way, the long-standing friendship and alliance between Montenegro and the US gains a new development dimension based on concrete projects.
Adžović: The agreement provides a framework to turn ambitions into concrete results
Minister Majda Adžović stressed that the strategic partnership with the US is acquiring a new development dimension and opening up opportunities for executing projects of long-term importance for Montenegro.
“We want modern infrastructure, strong and sustainable energy, and access to knowledge and cutting-edge technologies. This agreement provides a framework to turn those ambitions into concrete results,” Adžović pointed out.
That is why Montenegro believes these projects have laid the foundations that would make this partnership recognizable in the years to come, she added.
Šahmanović: Gas is a transitional solution
In February this year, twelve countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans agreed to enhance gas supply in partnership with the United States, by facilitating access to its LNG.
Montenegro was not among those 12 countries, but its representatives attended the meeting.
Montenegro’s Minister of Energy and Mining, Admir Šahmanović, presented his country’s strategic priorities at the gathering. They are the development of the Ionian Adriatic Pipeline (IAP), LNG terminal, and the construction of gas power plants.
“We see gas as a transitional solution that contributes to energy stability and accelerates the integration of renewable energy sources, and not as a long-term replacement for the green transition,” Šahmanović stressed.
