The Montenegrin government is under fire for how it’s managing the ongoing wildfires, but it’s turning its attention to international collaboration, seeking help from NATO and the EU.
On Monday, Montenegro officially reached out for international assistance to tackle the relentless wildfires through NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, and various bilateral agreements, as reported by HINA.
An official statement revealed that Montenegro has been grappling with severe wildfires in multiple regions over the past few days. The local resources just aren’t enough to effectively control the blazes, especially in those hard-to-reach areas suffering from extreme heat, strong winds, and drought.
Resource Shortages
“Montenegro’s aerial firefighting resources are fully stretched, but given the magnitude of the fires and some technical limitations, they can’t meet all the operational needs,” the government stated.
As a NATO member since 2017, Montenegro can call for international aid through established national protocols and international agreements when local resources are depleted.
Active fires have been reported near Podgorica, prompting evacuations, as well as in coastal regions close to Budva and in the northern area around Bijelo Polje. The Montenegrin army is actively participating in the firefighting efforts.
The Interior Ministry announced that starting Tuesday, a firefighting Canadair aircraft from Croatia will join the battle, and Serbia has sent a Kamov helicopter to lend a hand.
