President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, has confirmed that he will travel to Montenegro to attend the European Union–Western Balkans summit.
“I am going to Montenegro. It is very important that I represent Serbia there,” Vučić said during a joint press conference with the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa.
The confirmation comes at a time of heightened tensions between Belgrade and Podgorica, and after warnings from Serbia’s intelligence service advising that Vučić should not travel to Montenegro due to security risks.
Vučić said he was aware of the statement by the Serbian Security and Information Agency (BIA), which advised against the visit, citing what it described as “hostile activity by foreign intelligence services and criminal clans” in Montenegro.
He added that he would speak about other issues while in Montenegro.
Following the meeting with Costa, Vučić told the EU official: “See you tonight in Montenegro, unless I pose a hybrid threat.”
A day earlier, Montenegro deported 87 men who had arrived from Belgrade on a charter flight, claiming they posed a “security risk,” while Montenegrin media described the group as Vučić’s “informal security escort.”
Radio Free Europe reported that among them were supporters of Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), as well as individuals accused of attacks on anti-government protesters.
Montenegrin police also reportedly seized a large banner reading “Serbia wins,” a slogan used by SNS at rallies and displayed on billboards across Serbia.
