Montenegro is in the middle of a clash between the West and Russia over influence in the Balkans. The outcome could determine the way the region is heading: toward NATO and the European Union, or back to Russia's sphere of influence. He said the U.S. is one of the last remaining NATO members not to have given Montenegro's bid "full parliamentary approval." "It's absolutely critical they be brought into NATO," Scaparrotti told the Senate Armed Services Committee. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., had blocked an earlier attempt to act on Montenegro's ratification despite strong support for the move from Democrats and Republicans.

Source: Economic Times March 27, 2017 22:07 UTC