Opinion Piece by Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Michael C. Keays, Podgorica, Montenegro
The 250th anniversary of the America’s Declaration of Independence from Great Britain is an opportunity to reflect on how we came to that fateful decision, the sacrifices the American people and key allies made in the decades that followed, and the meaning of statehood. America’s birth came at independence, but that is only where the journey begins. A state must control its borders, protect its citizens from external threats, and ensure territorial integrity – sovereignty through deliberate action, not simply on paper. As Montenegro navigates transnational crime, foreign malign influence, and regional instability, this matters as much today as it did to the United States during its founding and today.
The essence of modern statehood dates back to the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648: a nation consists of a defined territorial space recognized as an independent nation and the people living within its borders who see themselves as citizens of that state, governed by a legitimate government that looks after their well-being and security. By these standards, America achieved statehood when its neighbors agreed that it existed, that its boundaries were established, and when the people living within it – Americans – understood themselves to be citizens of the United States of America, protected by and supported by governments that were responsive to their needs including external security. The latter is particularly important: Citizens cannot be expected to control borders and repel invaders and external malign influences individually without an effective government to act for them. But in America’s case, it was really the principles enumerated in our Declaration that give our nation the core of its meaning.
The people of any country need to be able to count on a government that protects them and defends their borders from other governments, organized criminal groups, or malign influencers, foreign and domestic. Montenegro knows this reality well. Your government relies on the authority accorded to it by the people – to control borders, to raise revenues based on cross-border trade, and to keep out threats to your sovereignty and security. This is not a theory; it is the daily work of protecting what you achieved in 2006 when Montenegro reclaimed its independence. Your diplomats and leaders since that time have done remarkable work consolidating Montenegro’s statehood.
At the beginning of U.S. history, our new government retained a monopoly of control on our borders and trade, and the American people increasingly saw the benefits of their shared citizenship as Americans. America prospered, and the American people and their success became the subject of admiration in the Western world. But that admiration began with something fundamental: border security, and protection of citizens’ rights. You cannot protect the rights of citizens without a secure border.
As I have explained in my initial rounds of meetings with Montenegro’s leaders, our top priority is to finalize the intergovernmental agreement between the United States and Montenegro. Doing so will facilitate and encourage American companies to invest in Montenegro. One of the brightest areas for future engagement is in border security. The United States has the world’s leading tech companies specializing in scanners and sensors- technology that would benefit the Montenegrin people and their security. It is much of the same technology that we have used to secure our own borders in the past year. Thus, my team and I will continue to work hard to make this agreement a reality.
We are achieving success with friends and allies, including Montenegro. As we celebrate 250 years of independence, it is an exciting time to represent the United States government and the American people here in Montenegro. I look forward to seeing what our cooperation, including a finalized intergovernmental agreement, will leave behind for the next generation of Americans and Montenegrins.