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Montenegro Prospects in NATO Depend on US Decisions Made at 'Big Table'

© AP Photo / Virginia MayoNATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, right, and Montenegro's Foreign Minister Igor Luksic address a media conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, right, and Montenegro's Foreign Minister Igor Luksic address a media conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015 - Sputnik International
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The outcome of the political crisis in Montenegro will depend on the policy of the new US administration in the Balkan region, publicist and former mayor of the historic capital of Montenegro, Cetinje, Aleksandar Aleksic said in an interview with Sputnik Serbia.

A German soldier from the NATO coalition stands guard during a visit by resolute support spokesman Brigadier General H. Cleveland outside the Shaheen 209th military corps training center in Mazar-i-Sharif on April 26, 2016 - Sputnik International
Montenegro to Join NATO Within Several Months – Prime Minister
Whether Montenegro will become a NATO member next year, does not depend on the local elites, but rather on the decisions made at the "big table," Aleksic noted.

According to him, the last election, in which the country's major party Democratic Party of Socialists received a small majority and exposed the depth of the crisis in Montenegrin society.

"The main dividing line has occurred due to the policy of pulling Montenegro into NATO against the will of over two-thirds of adult citizens of this country," Aleksic said. "Major 'producers of the crisis' in Montenegro are controlled by America."

According to Aleksic, Montenegro could totally lose its sovereignty after joining the military alliance. At the same time, he mentioned that new US leadership could change its political course in the Balkans.

Earlier, Trump called NATO, Washington's foremost foreign policy instrument in Europe "obsolete" and "outdated." Following his statement, US allies have expressed concern about Trump's critical remarks.

"Trump, by the way, opposes NATO bases in Montenegro. That is why — very carefully, with a minimum dose of hope — we will observe the instructions, which will be given to local and regional players. In this sense, the leaders of Montenegro […] do not actually decide in which direction their country will move," Aleksic stated.

On December 2, 2015, NATO invited Montenegro to join the military bloc. The government accepted the invitation next day, triggering nationwide anti-NATO protests.

For Montenegro to become a full-fledged alliance member, all 28 NATO countries must ratify the founding treaty to include the new country.

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