Bečić: The largest international military exercise [lat]„COMMON CHALLENGE 26“[/lat] completed

High-level officials attended the event, including the Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro for security, defense, crime fight, and internal policy, Aleksa Bečić, Minister of Defense Dragan Krapović, Chief of the General Staff of the Montenegrin Army Brigadier General Miodrag Vuksanović, Maine State Governor Janet Trafton Mills, Maine National Guard Commander Dajan Dun, military attachés, diplomatic representatives, and other guests. Speaking on the importance of international cooperation, Bečić stated that joint training enhances the readiness and capability of armed forces to respond to challenges beyond individual countries' borders, thanking all participants for the successful exercise and safe execution of all tasks. Defense Minister Dragan Krapović assessed that “Common Challenge 26” demonstrated much more than just procedural checks and mountain warfare capabilities, representing a demonstration of joint readiness for planning, action, and response in conditions requiring high levels of interoperability and mutual trust. He particularly highlighted the role of Air Force personnel and the Montenegrin Army rescue teams in search and rescue operations, emphasizing that the experiences gained during the exercise have broader significance beyond military capabilities, as they strengthen the Army's capacity to support institutions and citizens when help is most needed. The “Common Challenge 26” exercise brought together over 500 participants from the Montenegrin Army, Maine National Guard, Spanish Armed Forces, as well as the armed forces of Austria, Slovenia, and North Macedonia. During the exercise, joint training and experience exchange were conducted, with a focus on assessing participants' ability to plan, coordinate, and execute complex conventional operations in mountain environments, emphasizing interoperability and joint action. The successful implementation of “Common Challenge 26” further enhanced the joint operational capabilities of the Montenegrin armed forces, allied and partner countries, reaffirming the importance of international cooperation and joint training for developing national capabilities and readiness to respond to modern security challenges.