NGOs and civic activists: Government of Montenegro to respond to allegations of arms trade with Israel

HRA states that in February 2026, the Palestinian Embassy in Montenegro condemned “the ongoing cooperation between the Ministry of Defense of Montenegro and the Israeli military and its military industry.” Also, BIRN research from August 2025 indicates that “the Ministry of Economic Development, with the consent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior, issued two licenses for the export of weapons to Israel in March and April 2024 during the military offensive on the Gaza Strip.” To date, the relevant ministries have not publicly responded to these allegations, which, the statement says, highlights the need for full transparency and accurate information to the public.

"Our organizations and activists express their strongest opposition to any form of arms trade, military equipment or other type of military cooperation between Montenegro and Israel, or Israeli companies, as well as other intermediary companies, as long as the military offensive in Gaza continues, which the International Court of Justice considers to pose a risk of genocide. We recall that the International Criminal Court, of which Montenegro is a member state, on November 21, 2024 issued arrest warrants for the Israeli Prime Minister and former Israeli Minister of Defense for crimes against humanity and the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare," the statement said.

In such circumstances, they state, no form of cooperation can be considered neutral or technically justified — every arms delivery, every license and every contract 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 a partner in a supply chain that leads to war crimes and genocide.

"Therefore, we demand that the Government of Montenegro immediately publish complete and accurate information on all forms of arms trade and military cooperation between Montenegro and Israel that have been in force in recent years, as well as to urgently suspend such trade or cooperation if it exists," the statement concludes.

Signatories of the letter:

1. Human Rights Action (Human Rights Action – GAME)
2. Center for the Development of Non-Governmental Organizations (CRNVO)
3. Women's Rights Center (WRC)
4. Montenegrin-Palestinian Friendship Society
5. Citizens' Solidarity Movement with Palestine
6. Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM)
7. Center for Investigative Reporting (CIN CG)
8. Center for Democratic Transition (CDT)
9. Center for Women's and Peace Education ANIMA
10. Montenegrin LGBTIQ association Kvir Montenegro
11. ERA – Alliance for Equal Rights of LGBTI People in the Western Balkans and Turkey
12. Media Institute of Montenegro (IMCG)
13. Youth
14. BEFORE
15. Safe Women's House (SŽK)
16. Spectrum Association
17. Montenegrin Committee of Lawyers for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms (CKM)
18. Hand to Hand
19. KSENA – Center for Counseling Support for People with Experience of Violence
20. Our action
21. Civic Alliance
22. Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR)
23. Montenegrin PEN Center
24. Montenegrin Philological Society
25. Korina
26. House
27. Nature
28. Bona Fide
29. By His Own Action
30. Roma youth organization "Walk with us - Phiren Amenca"
31. Center for Civic Education (CCE)
32. Active zone
33. Montenegrin Foundation for HIV and Viral Hepatitis
34. Center for the Affirmation of the RE Population – CAREP
35. Association of Displaced Roma and Egyptians from Kosmet in Montenegro
36. Dr Martin Schneider -Jacoby Association – MSJA
37. Antifascists of Cetinje
38. Progressive Policy Fund
39. Montenegro Education
40. Delfin Ecological Center, Kotor
41. Municipal Multiple Sclerosis Association Bijelo Polje
42. Bauo Cultural Development Society
43. LBTQ Women's Association "Stana"
44. Montenegrin Women's Lobby
45. LDA Montenegro – Local Democracy Agency
46. Youth and Non-Formal Education Forum – MNE Forum
47. Montenegrin Women's Lobby
48. Active zone
49. Courtyard
50. Association of Disabled Youth of Montenegro (UMHCG)
51. Association "Štrpci - Against Oblivion"
52. Dina Bajramspahić, civic activist
53. Marija Backović, civic activist
54. Paula Petričević, civic activist
55. Milena Bešić, civic activist