{"id":39398,"date":"2018-06-05T16:52:55","date_gmt":"2018-06-05T16:52:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/06\/05\/nato-typhoons-take-to-the-sky-over-montenegro\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:10:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:10:22","slug":"nato-typhoons-take-to-the-sky-over-montenegro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/training-sim\/2018\/06\/05\/nato-typhoons-take-to-the-sky-over-montenegro\/","title":{"rendered":"NATO Typhoons take to the sky over Montenegro"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An air exercise marks the nation\u2019s first year in the alliance, along with a rising role<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Italian and Greek warplanes practiced intercepting intruder aircraft in the airspace over the Montenegro capital of Podgorica, beginning an assignment to patrol the skies of the newest NATO member. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exercise comes one year after the small, Conneticut-sized Balkan country joined NATO <\/a>over vehement Russian protests. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Montenegro government press release called the air policing mission \u201cone of the most important forms of direct benefit\u201d of Montenegro\u2019s membership in NATO. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alliance regulations stipulate each member state must have at least two fighter aircraft on 24\/7 readiness. For nations without fighter aircraft capabilities of their own, this standard can be met through multinational cooperation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Joint press point with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the President of Montenegro, Milo Dukanovic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A NATO news release stressed this type of \u201cair policing is not a response to any specific threat\u201d but a consistent part of collective defense operations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg did discuss Russia with Montenegrin President Milo \u0110ukanovi\u0107 during a June 4 meeting between the two leaders at NATO headquarters. The secretary general noted that they had agreed a \u201cdual-track policy of deterrence and dialogue is the right one\u201d towards Russia. <\/p>\n\n\n\t