Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović has concluded an official visit to Egypt that he framed as the opening of “a new chapter” in bilateral relations, meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Hisham Badawi. The visit, held from July 19 to 21, 2026, coincided with the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and produced a commitment to form a parliamentary friendship group as a mechanism for deeper institutional cooperation. Milatović declared that Egypt, as “the largest economy on the African continent and one of the most important countries in the Arab world,” offers enormous room for future partnership.
The parliamentary dimension of the visit carried particular symbolic weight. Hisham Badawi, elected Speaker of Egypt’s 596 member House of Representatives in January 2026 with 521 votes, is a veteran jurist who previously headed the Central Auditing Organization from 2016 to 2024. His election came after a record 99 day parliamentary election process that saw significant irregularities and consolidated pro government control of the legislature. Badawi’s career has been defined by his proximity to state power and his role in high profile investigations, including the 2009 Hezbollah cell case. The meeting with Milatović, attended by Montenegrin Deputy Speaker Nikola Camaj, focused on how legislative institutions can create conditions for stronger economic ties, legal security for investors, and the implementation of joint development projects. Both sides agreed that more regular communication and intensive exchange of visits could give new impetus to political, institutional, and economic cooperation.
The economic agenda was equally ambitious. Milatović’s delegation included the Minister of Culture and Media, the Acting Director of the Port Authority, the President of the Chamber of Commerce, and the Acting Director of the Investment Agency, signaling a clear focus on trade and infrastructure. A connection between the Port Authority of Montenegro and the Port Authority of Alexandria was highlighted as a priority, with both sides seeing it as opening space for stronger cooperation. Tourism is already showing concrete results, direct charter flights between Cairo and Podgorica continued through the summer of 2026, with growing interest from Egyptian tourists. The two presidents agreed to intensify political consultations and expand economic and investment cooperation across sectors including agriculture, transport, education, and culture. They also exchanged views on regional and global challenges, reaffirming that dialogue and international cooperation are key to preserving peace and stability.
For Montenegro, the courtship of Egypt represents a strategic diversification of its foreign policy. Traditionally focused on European integration and regional Balkan ties, the small Adriatic state is now looking south and east for new partnerships. Egypt, for its part, has been seeking to expand its economic and diplomatic footprint beyond its immediate neighborhood, though its foreign policy remains constrained by economic dependence on foreign investment and a reactive, risk averse approach to regional crises. Whether the parliamentary friendship group and the port cooperation agreement translate into tangible investment and trade flows remains to be seen. But for a country of 620,000 people seeking to punch above its weight on the global stage, Milatović’s Cairo visit sends a clear message, Montenegro is done being a Balkan afterthought and is ready to build bridges across the Mediterranean.
