From Tokyo finance to Podgorica politics: The unconventional rise of Milojko Spajić

Wars & Conflicts · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before becoming Montenegro's Prime Minister, Milojko Spajić built a career in global finance across Japan and Singapore. A polyglot who studied econometrics in Osaka, he returned home in 2020 to enter public service. Today, he navigates a complex political landscape while balancing European integration with regional diplomatic ties.

Born in 1987 in Pljevlja, Milojko Spajić followed an academic path that took him far from the Balkans. Supported by a Japanese government scholarship, he earned a bachelor's degree in econometrics from Saitama University and later completed a master's degree in financial economics at HEC Paris. His professional trajectory began in Tokyo with private equity, followed by a trainee position at Citibank and a role as a credit research analyst at Goldman Sachs in Singapore. By 2017, he had become a partner at the venture capital firm Das Capital SG.

Spajić entered Montenegrin politics in 2020, initially as part of an expert team during a period of religious tension regarding property rights of the Serbian Orthodox Church. He served as the minister of finance and social welfare from 2020 to 2022, where he helped implement the 'Europe now' economic reform program. In 2022, he co-founded the Europe Now! Movement. His path to the premiership was not without hurdles; his 2023 presidential bid was rejected due to his dual citizenship with Serbia, a status he acquired in 2009 to facilitate visa-free travel to Japan.

As Prime Minister since October 2023, Spajić has overseen significant progress toward European Union accession. His foreign policy stance is nuanced: he supports NATO membership but opposes deploying troops to the Baltic region and has expressed skepticism regarding the efficacy of sanctions against Russia. Domestically, he has distanced his administration from the political interference of the Serbian Orthodox Church, particularly after controversial remarks by Metropolitan Joanikije in 2025. As of 2026, Spajić remains one of the world's youngest serving state leaders, managing a coalition government while advocating for closer regional ties with Serbia.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• Milo Đukanović: The Longest-Ruling Contemporary Politician in Europe and His Complex Legacy
• A modern royal’s journey from London finance to the heart of Serbian public life
• From Milošević's spokesman to Serbia's prime minister: the political evolution of Ivica Dačić
• The rise of a long-serving mayor to Serbia's prime minister
• How a former venture capitalist became the architect of Greece's modern digital state
• How India’s Ministry of External Affairs manages global diplomacy and its own internal challenges
• The MiG-35: A Russian fighter jet designed for global markets that struggled to find buyers.
• Why a single banner on an aircraft carrier became a symbol of political failure
• The MiG-29K: A Soviet-era carrier fighter that found its second life in India
• The Mitsubishi F-2: How a Fighter Jet Became a Symbol of Diplomatic Friction
• The MiG-27: A Soviet ground-attack jet so powerful its own cannon could break it
• The Mitsubishi G3M was a lethal bomber designed for range at the cost of survival

More in Wars since 1945 · More in Wars & Conflicts · Latest · A–Z · All topics