Montenegro accuses Russia of hindering its progress towards NATO membership

(Baonghean.vn)-On May 28, Montenegro Foreign Minister Srdjan Darmanovic said that Russia had plotted to interfere in the country's internal affairs, aiming to hinder Podgorica's process of joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which is expected to be completed next June.

NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Photo: Sputnik

In April, the Russian Foreign Ministry described Montenegro's move to ratify the country's NATO membership into law amid nationwide protests as a "violation of democratic principles."

“Russia openly interferes in our internal affairs, which we will never accept,” Darmanovic was quoted as saying by RTCG radio. “Moscow has pursued a policy within the framework of its interests, opposing NATO expansion. We decided to determine our main goals ourselves, and we were surprised by the extent of Russia’s involvement.”

Montenegro's foreign minister stressed that the country's membership in NATO is not intended to directly threaten Russia or any other country, noting that Moscow is one of Podgorica's top 10 economic partners.

Russia has always criticized NATO's expansion of its military presence to the East, contrary to previous commitments by Western leaders./.

Lan Ha

(According to Sputnik)