PODGORICA, Montenegro— U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Kyle Cone, acting section head, civil military cooperation division (J9), Allied Joint Force Command Naples, led a combined JFC Naples-Allied Land Command delegation from JFC Naples' J9 Military Partnership Branch (MPB) to meet with Montenegro Armed Forces representatives, Oct. 27, 2016.
The meeting was in the framework of an annual military cooperation Expert Staff Meeting (ESM). It aimed to confirm the NATO military partnership program for Montenegro in 2017 prior to its expected accession to NATO in spring and to enhance NATO's understanding of the host nation’s military requests for support as it continues its integration to the Alliance.
Discussions included a review of the cooperation program between Montenegro and NATO in 2016, JFC Naples MPB's role in facilitating this partnership, topics of interest presented by Montenegro and a presentation on worthwhile cooperation activities and exercises available to Montenegro in 2017. The delegations also discussed areas of military support requested by Montenegro for its integration to NATO. Cone confirmed that JFC Naples J9 will continue to support Montenegro in the area of partnership and integration activities and during its accession and integration process.
Event organizers said the productive meeting was characterized by frankness, flexibility and transparency in the exchanges and the quality of the discussions.
ESMs are an important annual occurrence for all partner countries, and they allow J9 MPB and the partners to openly discuss progress under various initiatives and to ensure partners are correctly supported by NATO through JFC Naples.
Story by JFC Naples J9, photo by Montenegro