NATO Offer Membership To Montenegro

IBTimes: NATO Invites Montenegro To Join Alliance As Russia Threatens Retaliation, Axing Of Military And Technical Programs

NATO has invited Balkan country Montenegro to join the military alliance led by the U.S. with Russia threatening retaliation over the move Wednesday. The invite is the coalition's first expansion in six years and Moscow had earlier called the bloc's extension plans to the Balkans a "provocation."

Diplomats from NATO said, according to Reuters, that the alliance would send a message to Russia that it does not have a veto on NATO’s expansion toward eastern Europe. Accession talks are expected to take a year, and once completed, the country will become the 29th member of the bloc.

Montenegro has a population of 650,000 and a military with 2,000 active members, the BBC reported. The country got its independence in 2006 from the erstwhile Yugoslavia, a long-time Russian ally.

More News On NATO Offering Membership To Montenegro

Nato invitation to Montenegro prompts Russia warning -- BBC
Diplomats: NATO to invite Montenegro to join alliance -- AP
Nato to ask Montenegro to join alliance -- The Guardian
NATO formally invites Montenegro to join alliance, rankling Russia -- CNN
NATO invites Montenegro to join alliance -- USA Today
NATO foreign ministers agree to offer Montenegro membership -- RT
Amid Russian Tension, NATO To Ask Montenegro To Join Military Alliance Despite Putin's Anger -- IBTimes
NATO made another big move against Russia -- Reuters
Russia Bristles As NATO Invites Montenegro To Join Military Alliance -- BPR
Montenegro Joining NATO Would Mean End to Military Cooperation With Russia -- Sputnik
Russia to Boost Combat Readiness if Montenegro Joins NATO -- Sputnik