In a move that is sure to displease Moscow, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has asked the Senate to ratify Montenegro as a full NATO member.
Tillerson sent a letter to Senate leadership earlier in March, Reuters reported Wednesday, arguing Montenegro’s accession to the transatlantic alliance would promote greater trade and security cooperation throughout the tiny country’s Balkan Peninsula region.
Russia adamantly opposes further expansion of NATO along its western flank or into countries that were former republics of the Soviet Union. In his letter, Tillerson said that Montenegro should be brought into the fold in time for the NATO summit in May, sending a “strong signal of transatlantic unity” to Moscow.
“It is strongly in the interests of the United States that Montenegro’s membership in NATO be ratified,” Tillerson wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and ranking Democrat Chuck Schumer.
Tillerson’s promotion of Montenegro comes at a time of uncertainty surrounding the U.S. relationship to NATO and Russia alike. Reuters reported Monday that Tillerson planned to skip a meeting with NATO foreign ministers in order to be in the U.S. for a visit by China’s president. In the wake of criticism generated by the Reuters report, Department of State officials said Tuesday the agency has floated new conference dates to NATO members so Tillerson can attend both events. (RELATED: Dems Angry Tillerson to Skip NATO Meeting)
The secretary of state has also been attacked for his past connections to the government of Russian President Valdimir Putin. During his tenure as CEO of ExxonMobil, Tillerson had extensive dealings in Russia and voiced skepticism about U.S. sanctions that had sidelined company projects there.
Montenegro’s bid to join NATO is facing domestic opposition, even with the Republican Party. Sens. Mike Lee and Rand Paul have held up a vote in the Senate for several months, and Paul has specifically questioned the wisdom of bringing in a country of 650,000 people, potentially angering Russia during a time of mutual suspicion. (RELATED: McCain: Rand Paul Is Now Working For Vladimir Putin)
Montenegro has already been approved for membership by 24 of 28 NATO countries, though unanimous consent of all member nations is required to bring a new country into the alliance.
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