U.S. Relations With Montenegro

More information about Montenegro is available on the Montenegro Page and from other Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet.

U.S.-MONTENEGRO RELATIONS

The United States established diplomatic relations with Montenegro in 1905 following its 1878 independence from the Ottoman Empire.  After World War I, Montenegro was subsumed into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, and U.S.-Montenegro diplomatic relations ended in 1920.  The United States reestablished diplomatic relations with Montenegro in 2006 following the dissolution of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro.

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 European Union, with which it opened accession negotiations in 2012.  Montenegro joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as the twenty-ninth member in 2017.  Montenegro has demonstrated its commitment to international peacekeeping efforts, including in Afghanistan where it has contributed troops to the International Security Assistance Force and Resolute Support Mission, as well as in Latvia and Kosovo.

U.S. Assistance to Montenegro

U.S. Government assistance to Montenegro aims to help the country advance along its Euro-Atlantic integration path, improving its ability to fight organized crime and corruption, strengthening civil society and democratic structures, encouraging free and independent journalism, and promoting stability in the Balkans.  The United States has provided over $450 million in assistance since 1998; FY 2020 assistance to Montenegro totals approximately $13 million, including bilateral, regional, and COVID Supplemental funding.

Bilateral Economic Relations

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 openness to incentivized tax structures.  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’s Membership in International Organizations

Montenegro and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, NATO, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and the World Trade Organization.  Montenegro is also a participant in NATO’s Partnership for Peace program and the Adriatic Charter.

Bilateral Representation

Principal embassy officials are listed in the Department’s Key Officers List.

Montenegro maintains an embassy in the United States at 1610 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009; tel. 202-234-6108.

More information about Montenegro is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:

ACE Country Assistance Fact Sheet (PDF)
CIA World Factbook Montenegro Page 
U.S. Embassy
USAID Montenegro Page 
History of U.S. Relations With Montenegro
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics 
Export.gov International Offices Page 
Library of Congress Country Studies (see Yugoslavia (Former)) 
Travel Information