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Montenegro NATO accession clears hurdle in U.S. Senate
Source: Reuters
WORLD NEWS | Mon Mar 27, 2017 | 7:24pm EDT
Montenegro NATO accession clears hurdle in U.S. Senate
By Patricia Zengerle | WASHINGTON
The Balkan country of Montenegro was on the verge of becoming NATO's newest member on Monday after U.S. senators voted overwhelmingly to clear the way for a long-delayed final vote on its accession to the alliance.
The vote was 97-2 in favor of ending debate and allowing a vote later this week on the ratification of its NATO membership, far more than the 60 needed. The only two "no" votes came from Republican Senators Rand Paul and Mike Lee.
Before the vote, Paul argued that there was no point in forcing American taxpayers to take on the risk of defending such a small country if it were attacked, a condition of membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Arguing that Montenegro has only 2,000 people in its military, Paul said its membership would "add another country to the welfare wagon of NATO."
Backers of the former Yugoslav republic's membership said it was important to support the countries of eastern Europe that share democratic values against Russian aggression, and to reinforce their ties to the West.
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Montenegro NATO accession clears hurdle in U.S. Senate
By Patricia Zengerle | WASHINGTON
The Balkan country of Montenegro was on the verge of becoming NATO's newest member on Monday after U.S. senators voted overwhelmingly to clear the way for a long-delayed final vote on its accession to the alliance.
The vote was 97-2 in favor of ending debate and allowing a vote later this week on the ratification of its NATO membership, far more than the 60 needed. The only two "no" votes came from Republican Senators Rand Paul and Mike Lee.
Before the vote, Paul argued that there was no point in forcing American taxpayers to take on the risk of defending such a small country if it were attacked, a condition of membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Arguing that Montenegro has only 2,000 people in its military, Paul said its membership would "add another country to the welfare wagon of NATO."
Backers of the former Yugoslav republic's membership said it was important to support the countries of eastern Europe that share democratic values against Russian aggression, and to reinforce their ties to the West.
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-nato-montenegro-idUSKBN16Y2QF