BRUSSELS — Foreign ministers from NATO countries were expected to invite Montenegro to join the military alliance despite Russia’s objection to the move, diplomats said, the latest sign of discord between the West and Moscow even as they both battle the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq.
Montenegro’s accession was one of several topics being discussed at a two-day meeting of top diplomats from the alliance that began Tuesday. Other issues include the funding for NATO’s long-standing mission in Afghanistan, improving Turkish defenses, and injecting “predictability” in relations with an increasingly assertive Russia in places like Ukraine and Syria, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said.
“The security environment in which we meet today is dark: Terrorist attacks, violent instability (and) the breach of international rules. These are serious challenges from many different directions, and NATO is responding,” Stoltenberg said.
The decision on a formal invitation to Montenegro — part of the alliance’s long-standing “open-door” policy for potential new members — comes today, Stoltenberg said, but two NATO diplomats said it’s a done deal. Russia has warned Montenegro that its joining NATO would be regarded as a provocation. The diplomats requested anonymity to speak about a pending decision.
