While the administration had previously not taken any public position on the matter, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has reportedly written a letter to the Senate urging their ratification of Montenegro’s bid to join NATO as its newest member.
The tiny Adriatic nation of Montenegro was granted a Membership Action Plan in December 2009, and was formally invited into NATO in December 2015. Polls have shown Montenegrin voters split roughly down the middle on the question of member, though the government generally supports it. Tillerson argues it is “strongly in the interests of the United States” for Montenegro to join.
The Senate overwhelmingly supports to move too, though Sen. Rand Paul (R – KY), as the lone opponent is making the vote difficult, with Sen. John McCain (R – AZ) last week accusing Paul of working for Vladimir Putin for blocking his attempt at a unanimous consent action on Montenegro.
Sen. Paul has continued to oppose the matter, noting that Montenegro doesn’t really add anything to US security, and that efforts to expand NATO also seek accession for Ukraine and Georgia, even though this would almost certainly lead to a NATO war with Russia.
Yes, because Montenegrons are ready & willing to die for American “freedom”.
It’s more likely so the Montenegrins can have the US build a large base with airstrip and such and then collect rent from NATO to use it – which might just double the GNP of Montenegro (I have no idea what Montenegro produces, if anything – and really don’t care) – courtesy of the US taxpayer, willing or not.
This adds nothing to our security but does enable the small balkan states who are part of NATO bully their non-NATO members.
Whattaya mean it adds nothing to your security. A stronger Nato is got everything to do with your security and Trump’s plan to make America great again.
If you agree with Trump’s obvious plan of doing that by military means then you should be feeling very secure.
At least until it gets to be a direct challenge to those other nuclear powers, then everything will sort of go south in a ball of fire, so to speak.
Tillerson’s head is going to roll now for flying directly in the face of Trump’s priorities of disbanding Nato.
Bolton would have been a much better choice. LOL
I think that Raimondo would agree!
“Bonkers” Bolton has been for every war that the neocon warmongers have dreamt of.
Of course, the Senate “representing” some people in the United States, must be unanimous in its voting on NATO enlargement, as it is on any vote supporting Zionist crimes. What about asking Russia to join, and actually using NATO to reduce violence and conflict, not increase it?
Just curious, how does the entry of Montenegro contribute strongly to the interests of the United States.
I think this entire trump admin has been rolled by the neo cons. Nuland was very active in the balkans when she was still at state and of course soros might decide that he can actually still dance in the streeets-yech.
Albright might actually come back to popular demand but the residents of the balkans are likely to start shreiking, please no more democracy, we can’t survive anymore freedoms.
c’mon all you big strong men,
uncle sam needs your help again,
he’s got himself in a terrible hole,
way down yonder in Montenegro……..