Türkiye announced it will formally recognize Montenegro as a sovereign state and begin steps to establish diplomatic relations, following a request from Montenegrin Foreign Minister Miodrag Vlahovic.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed the decision, expressing hope for "peace and prosperity for the people of Montenegro" and pledging to build cooperative ties.

Montenegro voted for independence from Serbia in a referendum held on 21 May 2006. The Montenegrin parliament ratified the outcome on 3 June 2006, formally proclaiming the country an independent republic.

Türkiye joins the European Union, Russia, Croatia, Iceland, and Switzerland among the early governments to extend recognition to the new state.

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in June 2006, in its own words.