Montenegro more puzzled than affronted by Trump's attention
Source: Associated Press
Predrag Milic, Associated Press
Updated 6:55 pm CDT, Thursday, July 19, 2018
PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) World War III? Not us, say the puzzled people of Montenegro.
Public officials in this tiny European nation didn't know what to say initially when U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that NATO's newest and smallest member, which has a military with fewer than 2,000 members, could be the spark that sets off a global Armageddon.
That the leader of the world's dominant superpower would characterize the 620,000 or so Montenegrins as "very strong" and "very aggressive people" rendered their government speechless. It found its voice Thursday, and what came out was less a battle cry than a chorus of "Kumbaya."
"We build friendships, and we have not lost a single one," read a statement issued in the capital, Podgorica, in response to the media's clamoring for comment. "It does not matter how big or small you are, but to what extent you cherish the values of freedom, solidarity and democracy."
Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Montenegro-more-puzzled-than-affronted-by-Trump-s-13088779.php
whistler162
(11,155 posts)to attack us again. The US might even win this time.
paleotn
(17,778 posts)Haggis for Breakfast
(6,831 posts)justgamma
(3,660 posts)riversedge
(69,718 posts).....
Montenegro more puzzled than affronted by Trump's attention
Predrag Milic, Associated Press Updated 7:43 pm CDT, Thursday, July 19, 2018
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U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters seeking clarification of the president's thoughts on NATO commitments in general and Montenegro in particular Wednesday that any elaboration would have to come from the White House.
"I can tell you that the president reiterated our ironclad commitment to NATO's collective defense last week" at a NATO leaders' meeting in Brussels, Nauert said. "Their summit declaration that came out at the end of the summit stated clearly that any attack against one ally will be regarded as an attack against all."
Although its land mass and military are small, Montenegro was seen as an important addition to NATO when it defied Russia and joined last year. Along with having been a Russian ally in the Balkans, the country sits on a southern stretch of the Adriatic Sea that Moscow has been keen to control.
Montenegrin authorities accused Russia of being behind a foiled coup in 2016 that was intended to kill the country's pro-NATO prime minister. Russia has denied the allegation. Given the recent tensions, some Montenegrin observers worried Trump's comments might need to be taken seriously.
Former parliament speaker Krivokapic described Trump's remark as "very strange."
"I hope (it was) just a mistake, nothing else," Krivokapic said. "And I hope that Montenegro was not part of (the) Helsinki talks."
sandensea
(21,528 posts)"Wha? Did he work in one of my joints? What's he got on me?"
Ohiogal
(31,658 posts)The Wielding Truth
(11,411 posts)Trump is trying to smooth the way by saying NATO should let it go. Not start "the spark that sets off a global Armageddon."
It seems to have been on Trump's marching orders from the Helsinki meeting.
mulsh
(2,959 posts)Not to disparage the great and soverign nation of Montenegro, it's wonderful people and beautiful lands. Better see it before loser don bombs it back to the stone age.
[link:
SunSeeker
(51,367 posts)Russians have been buying up land along its stunningly beautiful coastline for years.
I hope Montenegro can withstand Putin's onslaught.
olddad56
(5,732 posts)could be the start of WW3. Trump would not have made that statement had Putin not told him that was the plan. It is going to get very real, very soon.
WW3 is coming and we will not be on the side of out allies.
I sure don't want to invest my son's life in this war.
Fuck Putin and Fuck Trump.
olddad56
(5,732 posts)or fuck trump in Russian.
SunSeeker
(51,367 posts)lostnfound
(16,138 posts)Really? How stupid do you have to be. Puzzled? I doubt that they are puzzled at all. Outside of the US, its pretty obvious who is writing trumps foreign policy.
https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-russian-military-spies-backed-attempt-assassinate-leader-montenegro-1007324
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-montenegro-election-trial/montenegro-begins-trial-of-alleged-pro-russian-coup-plotters-idUSKBN1A413F