Government of Montenegro Must Respond to Allegations of Arms Trade with Israel

Non-governmental organisations and civic activists have sent a letter to the Government of Montenegro, requesting urgent public disclosure regarding any export, import, or trade in arms and military equipment with Israel, as well as the publication of all valid contracts, agreements, and permits in this area. The letter was addressed to Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, the Minister of Defence Dragan Krapović, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimović.

In February 2026, the Embassy of Palestine in Montenegro condemned the “ongoing cooperation between the Ministry of Defence of Montenegro and the Israeli military and its defence industry.” In addition, a BIRN investigation from August 2025 indicates that “the Ministry of Economic Development, with the consent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, and Ministry of Interior, issued two licences for the export of weapons to Israel in March and April 2024, during the military offensive in the Gaza Strip.” To date, the competent ministries have not publicly responded to these allegations, which underscores the need for full transparency and accurate public information.

Our organisations and activists strongly oppose any form of arms trade, military equipment transfers, or other types of military cooperation between Montenegro and Israel, including Israeli companies or intermediary entities, for as long as the military offensive in Gaza continues, which the International Court of Justice has assessed as posing a risk of genocide. We also recall that the International Criminal Court, of which Montenegro is a State Party, issued arrest warrants on 21 November 2024 against the Israeli Prime Minister and former Minister of Defence for crimes against humanity and the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare.

In such circumstances, no form of cooperation can be considered neutral or merely technical – every arms transfer, every permit, and every agreement potentially contributes to systematic crimes against the Palestinian civilian population. Montenegro, as a state bound by international treaties and its own Constitution to respect international law, must not be part of a supply chain that leads to war crimes and genocide.

We therefore call on the Government of Montenegro to immediately disclose complete and precise information on all forms of arms trade and military cooperation between Montenegro and Israel in recent years, and to urgently suspend such trade or cooperation if such cooperation exists.

  1. Human Rights Action (HRA)
  2. Centre for Development of Non-Governmental Organisations (CRNVO)
  3. Women’s Rights Centre
  4. Montenegro–Palestine Friendship Society
  5. Civic Movement of Solidarity with Palestine
  6. Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM)
  7. Centre for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN-CG)
  8. Centre for Democratic Transition (CDT)
  9. Centre for Civic Education (CCE)
  10. ANIMA – Centre for Women’s and Peace Education
  11. Queer Montenegro
  12. ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association for the Western Balkans and Turkey
  13. Montenegro Media Institute (IMCG)
  14. Juventas
  15. PRIMA
  16. Safe Women’s House
  17. SPEKTRA Association
  18. Montenegrin Committee of Lawyers for Human Rights Protection
  19. Ruka Ruci
  20. KSENA – Counselling Support Centre for Persons with Experience of Violence
  21. Naša akcija
  22. Civic Alliance
  23. Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR)
  24. Montenegrin PEN Centre
  25. Montenegrin Philological Society
  26. Korina
  27. Kuća
  28. Natura
  29. Bona Fide
  30. Ipso Facto
  31. Roma Youth Organisation “Phiren Amenca”
  32. Active Zone
  33. Montenegrin Foundation for HIV and Viral Hepatitis
  34. Centre for Affirmation of RE Population (CAREP)
  35. Association of Displaced Roma and Egyptians from Kosovo in Montenegro
  36. Dr Martin Schneider-Jacoby Association (MSJA)
  37. Antifascists of Cetinje
  38. Fund for Progressive Policies
  39. Montenegro Education
  40. Ecological Centre Delfin, Kotor
  41. Municipal Multiple Sclerosis Association Bijelo Polje
  42. Cultural Development Society “Bauo”
  43. Association of LBTQ Women “Stana”
  44. Montenegrin Women’s Lobby
  45. Local Democracy Agency – LDA Montenegro
  46. Forum MNE – Youth and Informal Education
  47. Avlija
  48. Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro (UMHCG)
  49. Association “Štrpci – Against Oblivion”
  50. Dina Bajramspahić, civic activist
  51. Marija Backović, civic activist
  52. Paula Petričević, civic activist
  53. Milena Bešić, civic activist