U.S. Warns Montenegro Over University’s Partnership With Sanctioned Chinese Tech Center
The United States has voiced concern over the University of Montenegro’s decision to partner with a Chinese military-linked research institution currently under U.S. sanctions.
On July 18, the university signed a memorandum of cooperation with China’s National Supercomputer Center in Jinan, focusing on advanced fields such as cryptography, artificial intelligence (AI), and cybersecurity. The center is operated by China’s National University of Defense Technology (NUDT), which is controlled by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Commerce in 2015 due to its role in advancing Beijing’s military capabilities.
“This institution is operated by China’s National University of Defense Technology and is sanctioned by the Commerce Department,” the U.S. State Department told RFE/RL. The Department added that research collaborations in sensitive areas with such entities raise significant security risks, especially when involving NATO member states like Montenegro.
The University of Montenegro has not commented on why it proceeded with the agreement, despite its obligations as a NATO member and its role as host of the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Center (WB3C).
The U.S. emphasized the importance of NATO-aligned countries ensuring that partnerships in emerging technologies — particularly AI and cybersecurity — do not undermine collective defense efforts. “Academic and research institutions should adopt strong research security practices, including vetting collaborations for ties to entities of concern,” the State Department said.
University rector Vladimir Bozovic, who signed the memorandum, holds a U.S.-earned PhD in cryptography and previously worked at Florida’s Center for Cryptology and Information Security. His background has added to the scrutiny, given the national security sensitivities surrounding encryption technologies.
In addition to the recent agreement, the university has previously engaged with other Chinese firms under U.S. sanctions. In December 2024, Bozovic led a delegation to China where he met with executives from major tech firms including Hikvision, a company blacklisted by the U.S. in 2019 and subsequently banned in several European countries over surveillance concerns.
While Montenegro is not bound by U.S. sanctions, Washington expects allies to align with common security principles. Experts warn that partnerships with Chinese military-linked entities risk opening a backdoor to sensitive Western research and technologies.
As of now, neither NATO nor the European Commission has issued a formal response to the university’s collaboration with sanctioned Chinese organizations.
