Deputy Secretary General of NATO, Radmila Shekerinska, emphasized the strategic importance of the Western Balkans to the Alliance, stating that the message NATO conveys to the region is that existing challenges cannot be resolved through division and hatred, but rather through cooperation and hard work.

At the opening of the NATO Youth Summit organized by the Atlantic Council of Montenegro and NATO in Budva, Shekerinska expressed how pleased she is that the Summit is taking place in Montenegro and in a region from which she herself originates. She underlined that this gathering is a clear demonstration of NATO’s recognition of the value of young leaders.

“When we speak of future generations, we are not referring to a distant future, but to all of you who are already helping us shape what lies ahead. We count on your talent, your contributions, your creativity, and your professional perspectives to help us build a safer Alliance and give us the opportunity to shape a more prosperous world”, Shekerinska stated.

Shekerinska reiterated that the Western Balkans remain a region of strategic significance for NATO.

“While there is no active conflict today as there was in the 1990s, believe me, it was a harrowing experience that deeply affected everyone in the region. Thirty years ago, I was in your position, and we lived between war and peace, paying a heavy price. While countries in Eastern Europe advanced toward NATO and the EU, we remained stuck in the mire of the Balkan conflicts,” Shekerinska reflected.

She concluded by stressing that the mere absence of war is not enough — what is needed is robust regional cooperation. She warned that nationalistic and secessionist rhetoric continues to threaten.

“Today we have a peaceful region, a region that is cooperating. The majority of countries are focused on joining the European Union, many are already NATO members — yet we are still not moving forward due to divisive rhetoric. We continue to hear nationalist and secessionist narratives, and these are not just words. As we saw in the 1990s, words can be more dangerous than weapons. Words can incite violence. That is why NATO’s message to the Balkans is clear: this region matters to us, but we expect more from it in resolving its challenges. And challenges cannot be resolved through hatred and division, but through hard work and cooperation”, Shekerinska emphasized.

Speaking about preparations for the NATO Summit in The Hague this June, Shekerinska stated that “if you want to avoid war, you must be prepared for it.”

“That is our philosophy — we invest in defense because we want to prevent war. If we demonstrate strength and unity, and the determination to protect all Allies, that is the way to avoid conflict. These goals will be central to our focus at the NATO Summit,” Shekerinska emphasized.

She noted that the Summit in The Hague will largely focus on a key objective — “how to make NATO stronger.”

“When we talk about a stronger Alliance, we are referring to both unity and the actual capability to defend all Allies. We say, ‘all for one, and one for all’, but that means having the real capacity, the capabilities, the military power to back it up. That’s why the Summit in The Hague will strongly focus on continuing the trend of increased defense spending. You know, when security is at risk, nothing else matters. I come from this region — when I was your age, much of Europe was enjoying the benefits of peace, but this region knew how essential peace and security are. We understand that when peace and security are under threat, everything else fades away” Shekerinska warned.

In challenging times, she stressed, we are sometimes required to make difficult decisions.

“One of those difficult decisions is that we must invest more in defense. This is already happening across the Alliance. We have seen numerous Allies not only reach the 2% of GDP target — a NATO goal set more than a decade ago — but even exceed it. If you look at countries close to Russia, some have already moved toward 4%, with others pledging as much as 5%. This decision clearly reflects the threat we all perceive. That is why the focus of the Summit in The Hague will largely be on increasing defense spending and strengthening our defense industrial base,” Shekerinska concluded.

Rutte: Security Challenges Demand Fresh Thinking

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, in a video message shared during the NATO Youth Summit, said that the 32 NATO member states are working to keep the world safe. In this effort, he said, they count on the support of young people, who can help shape the Alliance with their knowledge.

“With war in Europe and growing instability, we need NATO more than ever. That means we need your thinking more than ever. NATO was there to protect me when I was young — even before I was born, NATO was keeping the entire Euro-Atlantic community safe. NATO is adapting for the future ahead of us, and we cannot do that without you. We need your suggestions, your inspiration, your energy, and your thinking. The security challenges we face today require fresh thinking.

So, if you are building a career in diplomacy, technology, defense – please step forward. Your voice is important for our shared future. Fight for your seat at the table and to have your voice heard. This is not my NATO. It’s yours. The Alliance is yours, and that is why we need your big ideas, your vision for the future, and for the challenges we face today. This journey has begun, and I have full confidence in you. Let’s do this together,” Rutte said.