In 1999, NATO killed 10 civilians in an airstrike against Montenegro as part of the Kosovo War. This week, the tiny Balkan state will formally join NATO, capping years of intense internal debate on what has proven to be a very controversial issue.
NATO nations are crowing over this as a big victory over Russia, presenting it as Montenegro having chosen the West over its historical ties to Russia. That may be true for the current ruling party, which has accused Russia of trying to assassinate their prime minister, but within the country, a lot of people are worried.
And rightly so. Montenegro ties to Russia are not just based on history and religion, they are also a major economic partner, and that is now in jeopardy. Trade is starting to suffer, with Montenegriin wine banned by Russia over pesticide concerns. Even deeper hits are being felt on tourism.
The Adriatic coast was a popular tourist destination for Russians, but they’re steering clear of Montenegro in recent years, with the figure dropping precipitously in 2017. Officials are downplaying this, insisting that Russian tourists will eventually return. In the meantime, becoming one of NATO’s smallest members isn’t going to convince Western tourists to flock to the former Yugoslav coastline.
Montenegro’s going to regret ever having joined this terrorist organization, known as NATO. Why? US troops will be occupying Montenegro, just as they’re occupying other Central and Eastern European countries who are NATO members. Slovakia doesn’t want US troops on its soil, and that’s the primary reason it wants out of NATO (they’re already preparing to do so).
This isn’t a victory for Montenegro’s citizenry, nor for its gov’t. who’s made a huge, terrible mistake. Russia’s no threat to the tiny Balkan nation, just as it’s no threat to any European country.
So, does NATO think it can block the New Silk Road that China’s preparing to build? Russia will be helping China with this huge project? No way, the project will proceed as scheduled.
These are all the signs of a huge hubris, trying to convince itself that is it winning. Whatever it means. The president of Montenegro, a known entity to smuggling in Europe, has thus accomplished his task, without anyone in Western media being “concerned” or “horrified” over his record. Typical banana republic. The problem for such “winning” is that it costs by far more then any perceived benefits. Montenegro has an army that is size of an average US high school. And since population has not been allowed to vote on the issue, the sleazy combinations of sold politicians did the job.
And then what? Russia never had Montenegro considered an asset. The history has linked Montenegrins to Russia, and population is not happy that NATO is turning into a big mouth, Russia hating organization, without a clue as to the real issues, or especially insensitive to the livelihood of populace. There will be no value to this
“acquisition”. Fully agree that Silk Road projects are marching on, as they are linked to the real needs of local economies, and are not empty talk of Europe and “values”, both economic and spiritual being a sham.
Our government already has an agreement with Montenegro from 2007. It can be found under TIAS 07-501. Article II reads: “Montenegro shall provide to the United States access to and use of such facilities as maybe necessary to implement the State Partnership Program and other activities as may be agreed upon by the Parties, including but not limited to transportation, storage and training facilities. Access to and use of such facilities shall be provided without charge”.
In other words: for free.
Furthermore: “Montenegro recognizes the particular importance of disciplinary control by the United States military authorities over United States personnel and, therefore, Montenegro authorizes the United States to exercise criminal jurisdiction over such personnel, with the understanding that the United States should inform Montenegrin authorities of the
exercise of jurisdiction when requested by the Government of Montenegro”.
That was exactly the provision which torpedoed the continuation of SOFA-Iraq 2008.