Japan–Montenegro relations refers to the bilateral relations between Japan and Montenegro. Japan recognised Montenegro on 16 June 2006, stating then that "the policy of the Government of Japan [is] to attach importance to the peace and stability of Western Balkans countries including Montenegro".MOFA, "Recognition of Montenegro and Visit to Montenegro by Prof. Akiko Yamanaka, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs," 16 June 2006; retrieved 2011-05-11 Neither country has a resident ambassador. Japan has a non resident ambassador in Belgrade.
History During the Russo-Japanese War, volunteers from Montenegro were encouraged to fight in the Russian Army in Manchuria.Montenegrina, digitalna biblioteka crnogorske kulture (Montegreina, digital library of Montenegrin culture), Istorija: Đuro Batrićević, citing Batrićević, Đuro. (1996). Crnogorci u rusko-japanskom ratu (Montegegrans in the Russo-Japanese War); retrieved 2011-05-12 However, Montenegro was not mentioned in the 1905 peace treaty and a technical state of war was presumed to exist between the two countries. In 2006, Japan made the gesture of recognising Montenegrin independence following its secession from Serbia and declared then that hostilities were over. "Montenegro, Japan to declare truce," United Press International (US). 16 June 2006;"Montenegro, Japan End 100 Years' War," History News Network (US). citing World Peace Herald, 16 June 2006; retrieved 2011-05-11 However, a 2025 study challenges the concept of this extended war, describing it as a myth generated for political and ideological purposes rather than a juridical reality.
Recent developments Montenegro has an honorary consulate in Tokyo, but there is no resident Japanese representative in Montenegro.Embassy pages However, the country has been recipient of Japanese development aid, and in 2017 the Japanese ambassador to Serbia visited the Montenegrin Prime Minister.PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO, 6 June 2017
Montenegro has minor trade relations with Japan. In 2017 it imported goods worth €19 million from there and exported €2 million worth.European Commission, "Trade in goods with Montenegro 2017" According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, there was a very small community of 27 Japanese nationals in Montenegro in 2017.Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
In 2016, Montenegro expelled 58 foreigners (of whom only four were Japanese) linked to the doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo, which was behind the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack. A police statement said they had "received information from [Japanese] partner security services showing that a group of foreign nationals, who were numbers of a closed religious group, were staying in Montenegro".Independent, 30 March 2016
See also
Foreign relations of Japan Foreign relations of Montenegro Japan–Yugoslavia relations
Notes
References Batrićević, Đuro. (1996). Crnogorci u rusko-japanskom ratu (Montenegrins in the Russo-Japanese War). Cetinje: Obod. OCLC 040389738 __________. (1994). Dr Anto Gvozdenović: general u tri vojske. Crnogorci u rusko-japanskom ratu (Dr. Anto Gvozdenovic: General in Three Armies; Montegegrans in the Russo-Japanese War) Cetinje: Obod. ; OCLC 164797877
External links Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Japan-Montenegro Relations Tighter bonds with the Japanese