The fleet consists of six ships from Greece, Italy, Great Britain, Turkey, the Netherlands and Spain. The Montenegrin Navy command earlier stated that the ships, bearing member-states' and NATO flags, will stay in the ports until October 30. During the visit, NATO officials will meet naval officers from Serbia and Montenegro to discuss joint engagement at sea so as to respond to modern challenges, risks and threats to global security.
This is the first visit of a NATO formation to Serbia and Montenegro since NATO's air campaign in the country in early 1999. The authorities in Serbia have sued NATO with the International Court of Justice for "an act of aggression against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia", which at the time was the name of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro.