The Embassy of Montenegro in Washington, D.C. hosted a formal event at The Willard InterContinental Hotel to observe the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Montenegro and the United States. The event brought together the President of Montenegro, senior members of the United States Congress, officials from the U.S. Department of State, representatives of the National Guard, diplomats, sponsors, partners, and members of the Montenegrin community in the United States. The evening combined historical reflection, current policy priorities, and personal stories that linked the two countries across generations.
Mistress of Ceremonies Ms. Milena Čuljić opened the program by taking the audience back to October 30, 1905. On that date, American diplomat John B. Jackson, appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt, traveled to the Montenegrin capital to present his credentials to King Nicholas. Jackson carried a message from Roosevelt expressing his pleasure at sending “the first representative of a free people to a country which had always been able to maintain its independence.” Ms. Čuljić noted that this exchange placed Montenegro and the United States on a formal diplomatic footing, and she drew a clear line from that first contact to the present gathering in Washington.
Ms. Djurdic then introduced Montenegrin singer and musician Ms. Maša Vujadinović, a graduate of Berklee College of Music. Ms. Vujadinović performed the national anthems of Montenegro and the United States and set a composed and respectful tone for the rest of the evening. The audience then viewed a short film titled “120 Years of Montenegro–U.S. Diplomatic Relations,” which presented key milestones in the relationship. A pre-recorded video message from U.S. Ambassador to Montenegro Judy Rising Reinke followed, adding the perspective from Podgorica.
For 120 years, 🇺🇸🤝🇲🇪 relations have shown that true partnership is rooted in mutual friendship and trust. These shared values continue to guide us, and I’m confident our bond will only deepen in the years ahead. Happy #USMNE120🎉! https://t.co/RsREWOXsoU
— Ambassador Judy Rising Reinke (@USAmbMNE) November 19, 2025
After the opening segment, Ms. Djurdic invited H.E. Jovan Mirković, Ambassador of Montenegro to the United States, to the podium. She introduced him as a scientist and professor who previously served as Montenegro’s first Ambassador to Japan and who now leads the embassy in Washington with a practical, hands-on approach. Ambassador Mirković reviewed the history of the relationship and recalled that U.S. Envoy John B. Jackson recognized Montenegro’s sovereignty and started formal diplomatic ties 120 years earlier. He noted that nearly 2,000 Montenegrins served in the U.S. Armed Forces, many in leadership positions, and he expressed appreciation for U.S. support during both world wars and during Montenegro’s more recent Euro-Atlantic journey.
Ambassador Mirković highlighted Montenegro’s NATO accession in 2017 and thanked Congressman Mike Turner for his advocacy during that process. He welcomed the presence of Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, co-chair of the Montenegro Caucus, and acknowledged Mr. Daniel J. Morton from the U.S. Department of State, as well as senior representatives of the National Guard, including General John E. Dunn of the Maine National Guard. The Ambassador pointed to the October 2024 Economic Dialogue in Podgorica as a new phase in cooperation, covering infrastructure, energy, tourism, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital governance. He also drew attention to the contribution of Montenegrin students and researchers at leading American universities such as Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Berkeley, and Johns Hopkins. He concluded by thanking the sponsors and partners and inviting guests to raise a glass to the shared future of Montenegro and the United States.
Ms. Djurdic then introduced Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, who has represented Maine’s 1st Congressional District since 2009 and co-chairs the Montenegro Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congresswoman Pingree explained that her connection to Montenegro arises from the State Partnership Program between Montenegro and the Maine National Guard, which will reach its twentieth year in 2026. She recalled frequent exchanges between Maine and Montenegro and noted the strong personal relationships that have grown through that cooperation. She acknowledged President Jakov Milatović, Ambassador Mirković, senior officers of the National Guard, and her colleague Congressman Mike Turner.
Congresswoman Pingree referred to recent discussions with President Milatović on Montenegro’s European Union aspirations and expressed support for continued progress in that direction. She commented on the current domestic climate in Washington yet underlined that both political parties in Congress share a commitment to peace, security, and prosperity for Montenegro. She closed by citing a line from a Montenegrin poet about freedom and a “glorious name,” and she linked that sentiment to the shared commitment to liberty in both societies.
In her next introduction, Ms. Djurdic drew a direct connection between Montenegro’s renewed independence in 2006, its NATO accession in 2017, and the advocacy work that took place in Washington. She recalled that Congressman Mike Turner played a key role in building congressional backing for Montenegro’s membership in NATO and received a state award from Montenegro in 2018 in recognition of those efforts. She then invited him to address the audience.
Congressman Turner, co-chair of the Montenegro Caucus, spoke about long-term cooperation between Montenegro and the United States within NATO and through bilateral dialogue. He thanked President Milatović for his leadership and for his participation in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Dayton, Ohio, which coincided with the thirtieth anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement. Congressman Turner stressed that policymakers in Washington must continue to pay attention to the Western Balkans, since the region still needs active engagement from the United States, the European Union, and NATO to prevent new tensions. He also described visits to Montenegro and referred to the country’s natural environment as a source of appeal and identity. He ended by expressing confidence that Montenegro and the United States will deepen their partnership over the next century.
To connect domestic U.S. diplomacy with executive branch policy, Ms. Čuljić then invited Mr. Daniel J. Morton, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western, Central, and Southern Europe in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, U.S. Department of State. Mr. Morton revisited John B. Jackson’s early reporting to Secretary of State John Hay, which had drawn Washington’s attention to Montenegro’s reform agenda and regional role in the early twentieth century. He then moved to current priorities, stating that the United States continues to work with Montenegro on cybersecurity, border management, and efforts against transnational crime. He pointed out the presence of U.S. private sector representatives in the room and encouraged deeper commercial ties in infrastructure, defense industry cooperation, energy, science, and technology. Mr. Morton also thanked Montenegro for meeting NATO defense commitments, contributing troops to NATO missions, and supporting the new NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine mission. He concluded with appreciation for the hospitality of the Embassy of Montenegro and expressed readiness to expand cooperation in the coming years.
Ms. Djurdic then introduced the keynote speaker, H.E. Jakov Milatović, President of Montenegro, describing him as a head of state who consistently promotes Montenegro’s role in NATO and its future place in the European Union, while strengthening ties with the United States. President Milatović took the podium and opened by recalling that on October 30, 1905, Envoy John B. Jackson and Prince Nicholas of Montenegro formalized relations between the Principality of Montenegro and the United States. He explained that throughout the twentieth century, the relationship adapted to political changes yet kept a core of mutual respect and cooperation.
The President paid tribute to generations of Montenegrin emigrants who settled in the United States and maintained close links with their ancestral homeland. He noted that many of them advocated for Montenegro’s right to statehood and drew on American democratic experience in that effort. He then turned to the modern era, explaining that the restoration of Montenegro’s independence in 2006 opened a new chapter. The United States quickly recognized independent Montenegro and supported its institutional development through technical assistance and political backing for reforms. President Milatović recalled that the United States played a decisive role in Montenegro’s NATO accession in 2017.
Looking at current and future priorities, President Milatović listed cooperation in security and defense, energy, infrastructure, investment, technology, culture, and education. He stressed that the relationship between Montenegro and the United States grows not only through official contacts but also through ties among entrepreneurs, academics, young professionals, and artists. In a personal note, he described his own arrival in the United States as a 20-year-old student on a U.S. government scholarship to Illinois State University. He explained that that experience shaped his outlook and influenced his later work in public service. He then spoke about Montenegro’s “European dream,” rooted in its civic identity and history, and thanked American partners for their understanding and support on that path. As President, he stated his intention to raise Montenegro–U.S. cooperation to the level of a strategic partnership, especially in defense, economic engagement, energy security, and innovation. He closed by thanking the hosts and guests and by expressing confidence in the future of the relationship.
At the close of the formal program, Ms. Djurdic returned to invite Ms. Maša Vujadinović back to the stage. Ms. Vujadinović performed a traditional Montenegrin song followed by the American standard “Fly Me to the Moon,” providing a smooth transition from formal speeches to a more relaxed reception setting. Ms. Djurdic then thanked the audience, sponsors, and partners and officially concluded the program.
The Embassy of Montenegro recognized Bechtel as the general sponsor and UGT Renewables, ServiceNow, and the Alzheimer’s Association as supporting partners. Guests then proceeded to the reception and networking portion of the event, where members of Congress, U.S. officials, Montenegrin representatives, business leaders, and community members continued their discussions in a more informal setting.
The event presented a structured and well-sequenced overview of 120 years of Montenegro–United States diplomatic relations. It connected the origins of that relationship in 1905 with current cooperation in NATO, economic and energy projects, academic links, and the work of the Montenegrin diaspora. It also set clear expectations that both sides intend to deepen this partnership in the years ahead.
