Montenegro–NATO relations

Last updated

Montenegro–NATO relations
Montenegro NATO Locator Lambert.svg
Flag of NATO.svg
NATO
Flag of Montenegro.svg
Montenegro
Logo of Accession of Montenegro to NATO. Nato5.png
Logo of Accession of Montenegro to NATO.

The accession of Montenegro to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, took place on 5 June 2017. [1] In December 2009, Montenegro was granted a Membership Action Plan, the final step in an application for membership in the organization. [2] A formal invitation was issued by the alliance on 2 December 2015, [3] with accession negotiations concluded with the signature by the Foreign Ministers of an Accession Protocol on 19 May 2016. [4] Montenegro officially joined NATO on 5 June 2017.

Contents

Background

The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro applied to NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP) program in June 2003. [5] [6] Montenegro declared independence on 3 June 2006 and soon after opened a Permanent Mission to NATO in Brussels. [7] The new country subsequently joined PfP at the 2006 Riga summit. In November 2007, Montenegro signed a transit agreement with NATO, allowing the alliance's troops to move across the country. [8] Montenegro then signed an agreement with the United States, in which Montenegro would destroy its outdated weaponry as a precondition for NATO membership. [9] In late 2007, Montenegro's Defense Minister Boro Vučinić said that Montenegro would intensify its accession to the alliance after the 2008 Bucharest summit. [10] Montenegro entered Intensified Dialogue with NATO in April 2008, and adopted an Individual Partnership Action Plan in June 2008. [11] It was invited to join the Adriatic Charter of NATO aspirants on 25 September 2008. [12] [13] The country then applied for a Membership Action Plan on 5 November 2008 with support of Prime Minister Milo Đukanović, [14] which was granted in December 2009. [15] Montenegro also began full membership with the Adriatic Charter of NATO aspirants in May 2009. [16] [17]

Montenegro began to contribute its national armed forces to NATO foreign military operations. [18] The country deployed 40 soldiers, a three-member military medical team, and two officers under German command to Afghanistan in 2010. Montenegrin peacekeepers were also deployed to Liberia and Somalia. [19]

Montenegro has received support for its membership bid from several NATO countries, including Romania, Turkey, Germany and the United States. [20] [21] [22] [23] [24]

In December 2013, Dnevne Novine reported that NATO had decided that Montenegro would join NATO at the same time as Macedonia, whose membership has been vetoed by Greece over the Macedonia naming dispute, making accession unlikely in 2014. [25]

In March 2014, Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Đukanović stated the desire for Montenegro to join NATO, [26] and in May 2014 expressed the hopes an invitation to join the organization will be favoured at the 2014 NATO summit in September. Russian MP Mikhail Degtyarev of the nationalist LDPR warned that NATO membership would make Montenegro "a legitimate target of Russian missiles." [27]

On 29 May 2014, the Slovenian (Karel Erjavec & Roman Jakič) and Croatian (Vesna Pusić & Ante Kotromanović) foreign and defense ministers sent a letter to the Secretary General of NATO, stressing the importance of inviting Montenegro into NATO. The Slovene defense minister also stated that he expects Montenegro to receive a NATO invitation during NATO's 2014 Summit in Wales. [28] However, later that year NATO announced that it would not be offering any new countries membership into the organization that year. Analysts confirmed this as a sign that NATO members are becoming skeptical about further Eastern expansion following Russia's annexation of Crimea, due to worries about Russian retaliation to new security guarantees to countries so close to its borders. [29]

In June 2014, then NATO secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen suggested that NATO would open "intensified talks" with the aim of inviting Montenegro to join the alliance by the end of 2015, [30] but that Montenegro would not get an invitation to join the NATO summit in September. Further assessment of Montenegro's progress was expected by the end of 2015. [31]

Minister of Defence Milica Pejanovic-Durisic visited Slovenia in December 2015 to discuss Montenegro's invitation to join NATO. Na uradnem obisku v Sloveniji ministrica za obrambo Crne gore dr. Milica Pejanovic-Durisic 05.jpg
Minister of Defence Milica Pejanović-Đurišić visited Slovenia in December 2015 to discuss Montenegro's invitation to join NATO.

A formal invitation was issued by the alliance on 2 December 2015. [3] [33] Final accession talks began in February 2016, [34] and concluded in May, allowing Montenegro to take an "observer" status pending ratification by the governments of the other members, as well as by Montenegro's own parliament. [35]

Pro-Russian opposition parties argued that a referendum on NATO membership should be held simultaneously to parliamentary elections in October 2016, though the government suggested that the elections were a de facto plebiscite on the issue. [36] Pro-NATO parties advanced in the election result.

The United States Senate voted on the Resolution of Ratification (Resolution of Advice and Consent to Ratification (Treaty Doc. 114-12)) on 28 March 2017. [37] President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum on 11 April 2017. [38] Ratification by each member state was completed with Spain's ratification on 10 May. On 28 April 2017 Montenegro's parliament ratified the accession treaty. [39] Montenegro officially joined NATO as a member state on 5 June 2017. [1]

The reaction of the Russian government to Montenegro's bid to join NATO had been increasingly hostile [40] culminating in an attempt to stage a coup d'état on 16 October 2016, on the day of the parliamentary election that allegedly would have included assassination of Montenegro's prime minister Milo Đukanović, according to the statements made by Montenegrin officials. [41] [42] The coup plot involved Russian nationals, including a Russian military intelligence officer previously expelled from Poland. [43] [44] [45] Tensions between the countries went on unabated thereafter. [46]

Opinion polls

DatePolling Firm/SourceFor NATO membershipAgainst NATO membershipLead
6–12 October 2017 CISR/IRI 43518.0
June 2017 CEDEM 54.245.810.0
Dec 2016 CEDEM 49.8850.120.2
26 June 2016 DAMAR 54.245.88.4
24 June 2016 CEDEM 50.549.51
28 May-5 Jun 2016 NSPM 39.960.120.2
16–20 May 2016 DAMAR 54.645.49.2
22 February 2016 DAMAR 55.644.411
Feb 2016 Ipsos 50.549.51
Nov 2015 CEDEM 49.850.20.4
8–16 Oct 2015 Ipsos 564410
11–18 Sep 2015 Ipsos 52484
28 July 2015 CEDEM 49.550.51
8–14 Jun 2015 DAMAR 51.248.82.4
4–11 Jun 2015 Ipsos 53.446.66.8
Oct 2014 CEDEM 43.7556.2512.5
Mar 2014 Ipsos 52.247.84.4
11 August 2013 Ipsos 50.649.41.2
Mar 2013 CEDEM 37.362.725.4
Sep 2012 CEDEM 49512
July 2012 CEDEM 46.853.26.4
Dec 2011 CEDEM 51.548.53
Sep 2011 CEDEM 43.956.112.2
Oct 2010 CEDEM 45.154.99.8
Oct 2009 CEDEM 41.558.517
24 June 2009 CEDEM 40.9259.0818.16
Nov 2008 CEDEM 36.4563.5527.1

According to a government poll in March 2014, 46 percent of Montenegro's populace supported NATO membership, while 42 percent opposed it. [47] A poll in July 2015 from the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights, which receives financial support from NATO, found that 36.6 percent support membership, to 37.3 percent against, with sharp divisions between ethnic groups: 71.2 percent of Montenegrin Albanians and 68 percent of Montenegrin Bosniaks support membership, while only 11.3 percent of Montenegrin Serbs do. [48] Russian MP Mikhail Degtyarev of the Nationalist LDPR threatened in May 2014 that NATO membership would make Montenegro "a legitimate target of Russian missiles." [27]

Political views

The ruling Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro and Social Democratic Party of Montenegro maintain a strong desire for Montenegro to become a NATO member state. In early 2009 they launched a two-year campaign with the aim of promoting accession to NATO, which is handled by the MAPA media agency under theatrical director Radmila Vojvodić. [49] The ruling coalition of PM Milo Đukanović claims Montenegro cannot afford to remain neutral and identifies NATO and the EU as a common process of Euro-Atlantic integrations. [50] According to a demographic breakdown of polling, citizens of pro-Serbian or pro-Russian political orientation, Eastern Orthodox Christian conservatives, women and the undereducated are the main groups that do not support NATO membership. The campaign has been somewhat successful, but received criticism from the Nansen Dialogue Centre for significant financial investment in a biased and propagandist campaign during a recession. [51] As a direct response, the establishment of the Serb National List  [ sr ] group launched the "No to NATO!" campaign, on a much smaller scale. [52]

The memory of NATO's 1999 bombing campaign of the then Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and resulting civilian casualties form a crucial part of the opposition to NATO membership in Montenegro.

The leading opposition political party, the Socialist People's Party of Montenegro, has remained ambiguous on the question of NATO membership. Although strong supporters of European integration, they maintain that EU and NATO integrations are completely separate paths and endorse holding a referendum. SNP CG has generally avoided giving a direct answer, but it is indirectly opposed to NATO membership.[ citation needed ] The New Serb Democracy is an outspoken opponent of NATO membership, supporting a referendum and convinced there would be a negative outcome. [53] The Movement for Changes is completely neutral and supports holding a referendum, and acknowledging its result. [54] According to Strategic Marketing's poll on the question as to whether to schedule a referendum, 72% of respondents support holding it. CATI's poll from 11–15 December 2009 on the question of its result yielded the following: 44% would vote against it, 40% would vote in favor, while 8% is unsure. According to a poll released in October 2009, 31.2% of Montenegro's populace supported NATO membership, while 44% opposed it. [55] A poll by Ipsos in March 2014 found that 46% supported membership versus 42% who were opposed. [56] A December 2015 poll found support at 47%, opposition at 39%, with the remaining 14% undecided. [57]

Opposition parties, including Socialist People's Party of Montenegro, have argued that membership should be approved in a national referendum. [57] A political crisis followed the government's announcement of intention to join NATO; large protests, supported by pro-Serbian parties, were held in Podgorica in mid-October 2015 that culminated in a riot in the capital on 24 October.[ citation needed ] Đukanović accused Serbia and Russia of supporting. [58]

A split in the ruling coalition followed in January 2016.[ citation needed ]

NATO membership was an issue of debate during the October 2016 parliamentary election. The Democratic Party of Socialists, which had governed Montenegro since 1991 and supports membership, won the election with 41% of the popular vote.

Ratification timeline

EventDate
Partnership for Peace 2006-12-14
Individual Partnership Action Plan 2008-06-20
Intensified Dialogue 2008-04-03
Membership Action Plan 2009-12-04
Invitation to join2015-12-02
Accession protocol2016-05-19
Domestic ratification2017-04-28
Ratification by: [59]
Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 2016-09-06
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 2017-01-18
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 2016-08-18
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2017-03-06
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 2017-02-13
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 2017-01-27
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 2017-01-17
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 2017-01-09
Flag of France.svg  France 2017-04-18
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 2017-05-03
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 2017-03-22
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 2016-07-11
Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 2016-06-23
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 2017-02-01
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 2016-11-01
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 2016-12-20
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 2017-02-01
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 2017-05-04
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 2017-02-09
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 2016-11-28
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 2017-03-27
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 2017-03-24
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 2016-07-06
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 2016-07-08
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 2017-05-18
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 2016-09-27
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2016-11-15
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2017-04-21
Member of NATO2017-06-05

Full membership

Montenegro became the 29th member of NATO on 5 June 2017 when it deposited its instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty with the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C. On 7 June 2017, The Flag of Montenegro was raised at NATO Headquarters in a special ceremony to mark the country's accession to NATO. Flag raising ceremonies were also held simultaneously at Allied Command Operations in Mons and Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia. [60]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montenegro</span> Country in Southeast Europe

Montenegro is a country in Southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. It is bordered by Bosnia and Herzegovina to the north, Serbia to the northeast, Kosovo to the east, Albania to the southeast, and Croatia and the Adriatic Sea to the northwest with a coastline of 293.5 km. Podgorica is the country's capital and its largest city; it covers 10.4% of Montenegro's territory of 13,812 square kilometres (5,333 sq mi), and is home to roughly 31% of its total population of 621,000. Cetinje is the former royal capital and cultural centre of Montenegro and is the location of several national institutions, including the official residence of the President of Montenegro.

The early written records of the history of Montenegro begin with Illyria and its various kingdoms until the Roman Republic incorporated the region into the province of Illyricum after the Illyro-Roman Wars.

The Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro is a social-democratic and populist political party in Montenegro. A former long-time ruling party sitting at the opposition for the first time as of 2020, it was formed on 22 June 1991 as the successor of the League of Communists of Montenegro, which had governed Montenegro within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia since World War II, and has remained a major force in the country ever since. The party is a member of the Socialist International and the Progressive Alliance, and an associate of the Party of European Socialists. During the 1990s, DPS was the major centre-left, social-democratic party in favour of Serbian–Montenegrin unionism. However, since 1997, the party has embraced Montenegrin independence and has been improving ties with the West, slowly turning into a catch-all party embracing Atlanticism, Montenegrin nationalism, neoliberalism, and pro-Europeanism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milo Đukanović</span> President of Montenegro from 2018 to 2023

Milo Đukanović is a Montenegrin politician who served as the President of Montenegro from 2018 to 2023, previously serving in the role from 1998 to 2002. He also served as the Prime Minister of Montenegro and was the long-term president of the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro, originally the Montenegrin branch of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia, which governed Montenegro alone or in a coalition from the introduction of multi-party politics in the early 1990s until its defeat in the 2020 parliamentary election. He is the longest-ruling contemporary politician in Europe, having held key positions in the country for over 33 years. However, he was defeated by the 36-year-old centrist former economy minister, Jakov Milatović, after the presidential run-off held on 2 April 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Filip Vujanović</span> First President of the independent Montenegro (2006-2018)

Filip Vujanović is a Montenegrin politician who served as the 3rd president of the Republic of Montenegro under Serbia and Montenegro from 2003 to 2006, and the 1st president of independent Montenegro from 2006 to 2018.

Movement for Changes is a right-wing populist and far-right political party in Montenegro. Its current leader is Nebojša Medojević, the party's founder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Montenegrin independence referendum</span>

An independence referendum was held in Montenegro on 21 May 2006. It was approved by 55.5% of voters, narrowly passing the 55% threshold. By 23 May preliminary referendum results were recognized by all five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, suggesting widespread international recognition if Montenegro were to become formally independent. On 31 May the referendum commission officially confirmed the results of the referendum, verifying that 55.5% of the population of Montenegrin voters had voted in favor of independence. Because voters met the controversial threshold requirement of 55% approval, the referendum was incorporated into a declaration of independence during a special parliamentary session on 31 May. The Assembly of the Republic of Montenegro made a formal Declaration of Independence on Saturday 3 June.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nebojša Medojević</span> Montenegrin politician

Nebojša Medojević is a politician in Montenegro. He is the president of Movement for Changes (PzP), a political party emerging from the Montenegrin NGO Group for Changes. He ran for president in the 2008 presidential election of Montenegro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Montenegro</span> Overview of the foreign relations of Montenegro

In a referendum on 21 May 2006, the people of Montenegro opted to leave the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. This result was confirmed with a declaration of independence by the Montenegrin parliament on 3 June 2006. It simultaneously requested international recognition and outlined foreign policy goals.

Referendums in Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Constitution, are one of the lawful forms of expression of people's will.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accession of Montenegro to the European Union</span> Ongoing accession process of Montenegro to the EU

Accession of Montenegro to the European Union is on the agenda for future enlargement of the EU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accession of Serbia to the European Union</span> Ongoing accession process of Serbia to the EU

Serbia applied to join the European Union (EU) in 2009 and has been a candidate for membership since 2012, along with nine other states. Serbia is the largest country in Southeast Europe seeking entry into the EU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Igor Lukšić</span> Prime Minister of Montenegro from 2010 to 2012

Igor Lukšić is a Montenegrin politician who served as the 4th Prime Minister of Montenegro from 2010 to 2012, following the resignation of Milo Đukanović. He was succeeded by Đukanović on 4 December 2012 and served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the latter's fourth cabinet, from 2012 to 2016. Presently, Lukšić is with PwC and handles public sector activities in southeast Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montenegro–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations

According to the 2012 U.S. Global Leadership Report, 26% of Montenegrins approve of U.S. leadership, with 48% disapproving and 26% uncertain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montenegro–Russia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Montenegro–Russia relations are foreign relations between Montenegro and Russia. Montenegro has an embassy in Moscow and Russia has an embassy in Podgorica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enlargement of NATO</span> Collective geopolitical action by NATO states

NATO is a military alliance of thirty-two European and North American countries that constitutes a system of collective defense. The process of joining the alliance is governed by Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which allows for the invitation of "other European States" only and by subsequent agreements. Countries wishing to join must meet certain requirements and complete a multi-step process involving political dialog and military integration. The accession process is overseen by the North Atlantic Council, NATO's governing body. NATO was formed in 1949 with twelve founding members and has added new members ten times. The first additions were Greece and Turkey in 1952. In May 1955, West Germany joined NATO, which was one of the conditions agreed to as part of the end of the country's occupation by France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, prompting the Soviet Union to form its own collective security alliance later that month. Following the end of the Franco regime, newly democratic Spain chose to join NATO in 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montenegro–Serbia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Montenegrin–Serbian relations are foreign relations between Montenegro and Serbia. From 1918 until 2006, the two states were united under the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and Serbia and Montenegro. Since 2006, there have been sporadic instances of debate on Montenegro's legitimacy as a separate state as well as much more prominent controversial debate on the Montenegrin ethnic identity. Despite this, the two countries have maintained mostly friendly geopolitical and economic relations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Montenegrin parliamentary election</span>

Parliamentary elections were held in Montenegro on 16 October 2016. The ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) remained the largest party, winning 36 of the 81 seats, and subsequently formed a coalition government with the new Social Democrats and national minority parties. The elections were held in the midst of an alleged coup d'état attempt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015–2016 Montenegrin crisis</span> 2015–2016 political crisis in Montenegro

A political crisis in Montenegro was initiated by the opposition parties which staged protests requesting fair elections and transitional government. Opposition coalition Democratic Front organised continuous protests in October 2015 which culminated in a large riot in Podgorica on 24 October. A split in the ruling coalition followed in January 2016, leaving the government functioning as a de facto minority government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Montenegrin coup attempt allegations</span> 2016 alleged Russian-backed coup détat plot in Montenegro

A coup d'état in the capital of Montenegro, Podgorica was allegedly planned and prepared for 16 October 2016, the day of the parliamentary election, according to Montenegro's special prosecutor. In September 2017, the trial of those indicted in connection with the plot began in the High Court in Podgorica, the indictees including leaders of the Montenegrin opposition and two alleged Russian intelligence agents. Russian government officials denied any involvement. In 2019, the Higher Court found the accused guilty of plotting to commit ″terrorist acts″, also of "undermine the constitutional order of Montenegro" and first instance sentenced 13 people. In February 2021, the appellate court annulled the first instance verdict on all counts of the indictment.

References

  1. 1 2 "Montenegro to Formally Join NATO on June 5 – Independent.mk" . Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  2. "PCNEN – Prve crnogorske elektronske novine". pcnen.com. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  3. 1 2 Montenegro invited to join Nato, BBC, 2 December 2015, Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  4. "Montenegro: Protokoll zu Nato-Beitritt wird im Mai unterzeichnet". Der Standard . 13 April 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  5. Serry, Robert; Bennett, Christopher (Winter 2004). "Staying the course". NATO Review. NATO. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  6. Jelena Dzankic, Montenegrin NATO Membership Aspirations After the Referendum on Independence
  7. Montenegro's Missions in the World Archived 16 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Mu, Xuequan (27 November 2007). "Montenegro, NATO sign transit arrangement". Xinhua. ChinaView. Archived from the original on 14 June 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  9. "U.S. Funds Montenegrin Arms Reduction". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 5 December 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  10. "Montenegro moving towards NATO membership". B92. 26 December 2007. Archived from the original on 8 May 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  11. "NATO launches Intensified Dialogue with Montenegro". NATO News. 24 June 2008. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  12. "NATO's relations with Montenegro". NATO . 3 July 2008. Archived from the original on 10 September 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  13. Avaz, Dnevni (26 September 2008). "BiH, Montenegro invited to join Adriatic Charter of NATO aspirants". Southeast European Times. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
  14. "Montenegro Hands over Application for NATO's MAP". Turkish Weekly. MIA. 6 November 2008. Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  15. "Montenegro Joins NATO Membership Action Plan". 4 December 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
  16. "Development of relations between Montenegro and NATO – key dates". Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. 2013. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  17. "NATO's relations with Montenegro". NATO. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  18. "Montenegro – Overview". United States European Command EUCOM. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  19. http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/features/setimes/features/2009/07/30/featue-02
  20. "Romanian president says his country wants Albania, Macedonia, and Croatia in NATO". Kyiv Post. 14 January 2008. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  21. "Romania wants Macedonia, Albania and Croatia to join NATO". MakFax. 11 January 2008. Archived from the original on 6 May 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  22. "Ankara lends support to Montenegro's bids for membership in NATO, EU". Today's Zaman . 19 January 2008. Archived from the original on 19 June 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  23. "Berlin: Germany supports Montenegro's further progress in EU and NATO integration". Natomontenegro.me (source: Government of Montenegro). 3 April 2014. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  24. "US to support Montenegro's membership in NATO". Neurope.eu. 13 April 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  25. "Montenegro to enter NATO together with Macedonia: Vecer". 17 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  26. Tigner, Brooks (25 March 2014). "Ukraine crisis won't halt NATO expansion". Jane's Defence Weekly. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  27. 1 2 Rousek, Leos (16 May 2014). "Montenegro Seeks Security With NATO Membership". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  28. "Slovenia and Croatia Pushing for Montenegro's NATO Membership". The Slovenia Times. 7 June 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  29. "NATO rules out admitting new members anytime soon". Fox news. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  30. Croft, Adrian (25 June 2014). "NATO will not offer Georgia membership step, avoiding Russia clash". Reuters. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  31. "NATO Rejects Montenegro Membership in 2014". Balkan Insight. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  32. "Slovenia to continue helping Montenegro in NATO accession". Slovenska tiskovna agencija. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  33. Emmott, Robin; Siebold, Sabine (2 December 2015). "NATO invites Montenegro to join alliance, defying Russia". Reuters. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  34. Delauney, Guy (15 February 2016). "Montenegro and Nato: Foes to friends?". BBC News. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  35. Dahlburg, John-Thor; Lee, Matthew (19 May 2016). "NATO formally invites Montenegro as 29th member". Associated Press. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  36. Tomovic, Dusica (14 September 2016). "US Senators Set to Back Montenegro's NATO Bid". Balkin Insight. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  37. "U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 115th Congress – 1st Session". United States Senate . Washington, D.C.: Federal government of the United States. Government Printing Office. 28 March 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  38. Office of the Press Secretary (11 April 2017). "Presidential Memorandum on a Letter from the President to the President of the Senate". whitehouse.gov . Washington, D.C.: White House. Archived from the original on 11 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  39. "Montenegro ratifies Nato membership in historic shift to western alliance". Associated Press in Cetinje. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  40. Конец операции "Черногория" Radio Liberty, 29 May 2017.
  41. "Slučaj "državni udar" i Đukanovićev "stari recept"".
  42. "Montenegrin prosecutor says Russian nationalists behind alleged coup plot".
  43. Farmer, Ben (18 February 2017). "Reconstruction: The full incredible story behind Russia's deadly plot to stop Montenegro embracing the West". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  44. "Kremlin rejects claims Russia had role in Montenegro coup plot". The Guardian. 20 February 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  45. Q&A: Duško Marković, the Prime Minister Stuck Between Putin and Trump in the Balkans Time, 16 February 2017.
  46. "Montenegro protests after senior politician held while changing planes at a Moscow airport". AP. 29 May 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  47. "Public opinion on NATO membership in Montenegro". NATO Membership Council's Communication Team in Montenegro. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  48. "CEDEM poll: Montenegrins split over issue of NATO membership". Policy Association for an Open Society. 31 July 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  49. "Kampanjom Za Veću Podršku Učlanjenju U Nato – E-Novine". Naslovi.net. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  50. "Volja građana i za NATO referendum :: Dnevni list Pobjeda". Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  51. "Vijesti Crna Gora | Srbija | Srpska | Rusija | Hronika | Politika". In4s.net. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  52. http://www.in4s.net/crna-gora/58-cg/6510-in4s-poeo-kampanju-ne-u-nato [ dead link ]
  53. Predrag Tomović (4 December 2009). "Crna Gora neće gubiti vrijeme". Radio Slobodna Evropa. Slobodnaevropa.org. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  54. "PZP traži da se izjasni narod - Pokret za Promjene". Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  55. "Political Public Opinion in Montenegro" (PDF). Foundation Open Society Institute. October 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  56. "NATO Membership Council's Communication Team: 46% of citizens support Montenegro's accession to NATO". Government of Montenegro. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  57. 1 2 "Montenegrins Vote Online to Stay out of NATO". Balkan Insight. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  58. Recknagel, Charles (28 November 2015). "Pro-Russian Parties Seek To Derail Montenegro's NATO Bid". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  59. "Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of Montenegro" (PDF). United States Department of State. 1 June 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  60. "Flag-raising ceremony marks Montenegro's entry into NATO". NATO. Retrieved 15 June 2017.