NATO ally Montenegro
President Trump never seemed to have much respect for the tiny European nation of Montenegro, the newest member of NATO. At a summit at the transatlantic alliance’s headquarters in Brussels last year, Trump and other leaders were gathering for a group photograph when Trump shoved aside Dusko Markovic, the prime minister of Montenegro, in an attempt to get to the front.
During an interview with Trump that aired Tuesday, Fox News host Tucker Carlson asked him why the U.S. should abide by the rules of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and defend Montenegro if it is attacked. “Why should my son go to Montenegro to defend it from attack?” Carlson asked. “Why is that?”
“I understand what you’re saying,” Trump replied. “I’ve asked the same question.”
Trump has wavered on his commitment to the alliance. On the campaign trail he called NATO "obsolete." Then last week he stirred havoc at the annual NATO summit when he said the U.S. might leave the alliance if other members didn’t pay more.
Trump’s comments on Montenegro and NATO put him squarely in agreement with Russia. “Russians were unhappy when Montenegro joined NATO,” Dobbins said. “Russia has criticized NATO and said it’s unnecessary, outdated and a legacy of the Cold War.” In 2016, Russia was accused of trying to stage a coup in Montenegro in order to replace its government with one that was pro-Kremlin.
http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-trump-montenegro-20180718-story.html
= new reply since forum marked as read
