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Montenegro - US Relations

The Great Powers of Europe recognized an independent and sovereign Principality of Montenegro at the Congress of Berlin in 1878. Following the dissolution of the Federation of Yugoslavia in 1989, Montenegrin independence returned when the Republic of Montenegro declared independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro on June 3, 2006. The United States recognized the Republic of Montenegro on June 13, 2006, and established relations with it on August 15, 2006. Recognition

The United States recognized the Republic of Montenegro on March 3, 1905, when President Theodore Roosevelt approved the Diplomatic and Consular Act, which assigned the U.S. Mission to Greece responsibility for American representation in Montenegro.

President Woodrow Wilson made the decision to withdraw recognition of independent Montenegro on December 30, 1920, and on January 21, 1921, Acting Secretary of State Norman H. Davis informed Montenegro’s Honorary Consul-General, William F. Dix, that “in view of the present status of Montenegro, this Government no longer considers it necessary to accord recognition to her diplomatic and consular officers.” The United States followed the lead of European powers in withdrawing recognition. Montenegro had sided with the Allied Powers in World War I, but was occupied by Austria-Hungary for a period and King Nikola was forced into exile.

With the departure of Austria-Hungary’s forces in 1918, French, Italian, and Serbian troops arrived to occupy Montenegro. Serbian leaders quickly convoked a “National Assembly” that voted to depose King Nikola and merge Montenegro into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. One of President Wilson’s Fourteen Points called for the evacuation of Montenegro and other Balkan states, as well as international guarantees for their independence. The 1919 Paris Peace Conference failed to reach a decision on Montenegro, however, and the Allies remained unwilling to intervene against the de facto occupation by Serbian forces.

The United States recognized the Republic of Montenegro on June 13, 2006, when Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice released a public statement to that effect. From World War I until 2006, Montenegro had been a constituent part of various incarnations of the state of Yugoslavia. Following the dissolution of the Federation of Yugoslavia in 1989, Montenegro had been part of Yugoslavia’s successor state (named the State Union of Serbia & Montenegro in 2003) until declaring independence on June 3, 2006.

The relationship between the United States and Montenegro has promoted peace and prosperity in the region and around the world. U.S. policy toward Montenegro is structured to help the country transition to a prosperous, market-based democracy, fully integrated into Euro-Atlantic institutions including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union. The country is a participant in NATO's Partnership for Peace program. The European Union opened accession negotiations with Montenegro in June 2012. Montenegro has demonstrated its commitment to international peacekeeping efforts, including in Afghanistan where it has contributed troops to the International Security Assistance Force.

U.S. Government assistance to Montenegro aims to help the country advance toward Euro-Atlantic integration, increase its ability to fight organized crime and corruption, strengthen its civil society and democratic structures, and provide stability in the Balkans.

A number of U.S. companies are operating in Montenegro, and the Government of Montenegro has put an emphasis on attracting more U.S. investment. The Montenegrin government counts the following as incentives for U.S. investors to do business in Montenegro: a business-oriented economic system, a high level of economic freedom, a stable currency (Euro), macroeconomic predictability, and protected ownership rights. Montenegro has been designated as a beneficiary developing country under the Generalized System of Preferences program, which provides duty-free access to the U.S. market in various eligible categories.

Montenegro and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and the World Trade Organization. Montenegro also is a participant in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Partnership for Peace program.

There is no sustained anti-American sentiment among the general public despite some residual resentment stemming from the 1999 NATO bombing. Montenegro and the United States share most policy goals and cooperate productively in many areas. There is broad support for a strengthening of ties with the United States, especially in the economic and commercial sphere.