At the opening of the NATO Youth Summit in Budva, organized by the Atlantic Alliance of Montenegro, NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska delivered a clear message: the Western Balkans remains a strategic priority for NATO, but the region must do more to solve its own challenges.
“If you want to avoid war, you must prepare for it. We invest in defense because we want to prevent war,” Šekerinska stated. “When we show strength, unity, and determination to protect every ally, that is how we avoid conflict.”
She criticized ongoing nationalist and separatist rhetoric in the region, calling it a threat to long-term stability. Šekerinska emphasized that problems must be solved through cooperation and hard work, not division and hate.
She also noted that NATO’s July 2025 Summit in The Hague will focus on the Alliance’s unity and defense capabilities, including plans for increased investment in defense across member states.
“Many NATO allies have already surpassed the 2% of GDP threshold for defense spending. Some countries bordering Russia are investing up to 4%, and a few have pledged 5%. This reflects the gravity of the threat they perceive,” she said.
Rutte and Milatović: Youth and Unity as Security Pillars
In a video address, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told summit participants that NATO is more necessary than ever in the face of rising instability and ongoing war in Europe. He emphasized the role of young people in shaping future security solutions.
President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović highlighted that his country’s NATO membership has strengthened regional security. He confirmed that Montenegro already allocates more than 2% of its GDP to defense, with potential increases ahead.
The NATO Youth Summit, held for the first time in Montenegro, gathers young leaders, policymakers, and experts from across fields such as security, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, aiming to engage youth in global security dialogue.
