Montenegro defies Russia to become NATO member

[Democrats_win]

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/montenegro-defies-russia-nato-member-47631037

snip
NATO is set to expand for the first time after eight years by welcoming Montenegro into the alliance. The tiny Balkan nation is attending the NATO summit in Brussels on Thursday practically as a member, although the entry process formally will be wrapped in early June. To get there, Montenegro has stood up against Russia, which has sought to maintain strong historic, political and cultural influence in the country it considers a zone of interest. Russia has threatened economic and political retaliation. Montenegro says Moscow was behind a foiled coup attempt in October, which Russia denies.

Montenegro — which means "Black Mountain" — is a small country in southeast Europe....

HOW A TINY NATION IS DIMINISHING THE INFLUENCE OF A HUGE ONE

Montenegro has an army of just some 2,000 soldiers. But it is strategically located on the Adriatic sea, between NATO members Croatia and Albania, having deep-water navy bases that could be used for big navy ships and submarines. Bringing Montenegro into NATO further diminishes Russia's influence in southeast Europe, and blocks it from the so-called "warm seas" in Europe. The Russians are less worried about the strategic military loss than about their diminishing political influence on the region.

HOW GLOBAL TENSIONS PLAY OUT WITHIN MONTENEGRO

Montenegrin people remain deeply split over NATO and Russia relations. Pro-NATO government officials say membership in NATO will bring stability after a turbulent history and loss of independence in the 20th century. Pro-Russian opposition figures say NATO entry means the betrayal of traditional friends, Serbia and Russia. The divisions are likely to persist after Montenegro formally joins NATO, but officials hope they will ease over time.
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Note: Thursday, President Donald Trump pushed aside Dusko Markovic, the prime minister of Montenegro, as he moved to the front of a group of the leaders.

[Solly Mack]

1. Which is why Putin loved it when Trump shoved the PM aside.

[bettyellen]

4. I honestly think he singled him out for that.

[Solly Mack]

5. It's entirely possible.

[bettyellen]

6. He's the type to need to have things oversimplified for him- who to diss, who to suck up to...

is all he needed to know from Putin.

[Rollo]

2. And what a rude welcome it was...

Fortunately Montenegro can take some comfort that Trump is just one of many NATO member nation leaders.

At at most he'll be around on the world stage for eight years, perhaps a lot less.

[GeorgeGist]

3. And Trump makes an ass of himself to please Putin.

Usually he does it to please only himself.