Russian anger as Montenegro becomes Nato’s 29th member
THE tiny Balkan state of Montenegro became a full member of Nato in a blow to Russia that could scupper a tentative rapprochement between the Kremlin and Donald Trump’s White House.
The former Yugoslav republic formally became the 29th member of the North Atlantic Alliance at a ceremony in Washington yesterday.
Montenegro’s Nato membership has been bitterly contested by Moscow. Earlier this year The Daily Telegraph detailed a failed coup plot that the British Government believes was a Russian intelligence operation to thwart the move.
Milo Djukanovic, the former prime minister, hailed the step as a move towards “stability” and denied that it would drive a wedge between the country and Russia.
“One of the reasons we are joining Nato is to create greater stability, not only for Montenegrin citizens, but also for foreign investors and tourists,” Mr Djukanovic said. “Therefore, our goal is to bring even more Russian tourists.”
The US State Department said Montenegro’s membership “will support greater integration, democratic reform, trade, security, and stability with all of its neighbours”.
However, the move is the subject of a deep split in Montenegrin society and provoked fury in Moscow, which has long opposed Nato expansion and previously viewed the republic as a bastion of Russian influence abroad.
As part of Yugoslavia, Montenegro was bombed by Nato during the Kosovo crisis of 1999. The country became independent when it split from Serbia following a referendum in 2006.
Best known for the azure blue waters and spectacular alpine scenery that have made it a glamorous holiday destination, the country is not a military or economic heavyweight.
However, its Adriatic coastline was the last part of the northern Mediterranean littoral not controlled by a Nato member, lending it crucial strategic importance in Russian eyes.
It also has strong economic and human links to Russia. About 80,000 Russians own property there, and about 15,000 live there permanently.
In October last year Montenegrin security forces swooped on what they said were members of a Russian conspiracy to assassinate Mr Djukanovic and carry out a nationalist coup to thwart the accession. The Kremlin denied any involvement.
Mr Trump’s granting of US approval of Montenegro’s accession was seen in Moscow as a major blow to hopes that the new US administration would offer concessions to long-standing Russian grievances such as Nato expansion.