AUGUSTA – The Maine National Guard has joined with the central European nation Montenegro in the National Guard State Partnership Program, which links states with countries to foster civil-military relations.

Maj. Gen. John Libby, adjutant general of the Maine National Guard, and Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, traveled to Montenegro this week to officially develop and accept the partnership.

The partnership could provide training opportunities that would benefit both countries, said Capt. Shanon Cotta, public affairs officer for the Maine National Guard.

“This way we can develop a very unique and positive training opportunity for the Maine National Guard and fostering good will between one of the newest countries in the world,” Cotta said.

Montenegro is a Mediterranean country bordered by Serbia, Kosovo and Albania. It is approximately the size of Connecticut and has a population of around 620,000. The predominantly Christian country is a former member of Yugoslavia.

The Maine National Guard joins 43 states, two territories and the District of Columbia that are partnered with 51 countries around the

world.

Before this week, only Maine, South Carolina, South Dakota, Idaho, New Mexico and Oregon did not have partnering countries.