U.S. supports NATO membership for Montenegro

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson submitted a letter dated March 7 to the U.S. Senate leaders asking that they help ratify the agreement on Montenegro’s entry into NATO, Reuters reported on March 21. Montenegro’s membership will lead to greater integration, democratic reforms, trade development, and the strengthening of security and stability among its neighbors, the letter said. He asked that the Senate ratify the agreement by the time of the NATO summit in May so that Montenegro could participate. 

Zenon Zawada: What’s significant about this for Ukraine is that contrary to concerns raised by the Western establishment about U.S. President Trump, he has adopted a foreign policy that not only supports NATO, but also challenges Russia’s geopolitical goals in Europe. The Russian government has voiced its opposition to any NATO enlargement, including Montenegro’s membership. Yet that has not affected the Trump administration’s decision to support Montenegro, despite opposition from such Republicans as Senator Rand Paul out of concern for harming relations with Russia.

Tillerson is scheduled to make his first visit to Russia on April 12, the Reuters news agency reported on March 21, citing anonymous sources. So far, the Trump administration has maintained the foreign policy of its predecessors on Russia, not lifting any sanctions and demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from Crimea and Donbas. However, we believe Trump is still interested in new relations with Russia, particularly for the sake of cooperating in a planned military offensive against the Islamic State.