The Montenegrin opposition makes excuses that it will no longer be able to abandon NATO
Following the defeat of the pro-Western government in Montenegro's parliamentary elections, some hope has emerged for a change in the country's anti-Russian foreign policy. Moscow, however, is skeptical of these hopes.
Izvestia writes about this, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
Thus, the head of the opposition coalition “For the Future of Montenegro,” Professor Zdravko Krivokapic, told the media that he hopes for improved relations with Russia.
In turn, the representative of one of the parties of the Democratic Front alliance, which is part of the opposition coalition, Milan Knezevic, told the publication that an era of good relations between Moscow and Podgorica is coming. He also added that EU membership will remain an external priority for Montenegro, but called for developing relations with the country’s historical allies – Serbia and Russia.
“The future government will discuss the issue of sanctions against Russia. In my opinion, a new era of warm relations with the Russian Federation is beginning, which could lead to the lifting of sanctions both in the EU and on the part of Montenegro,” says Knezevic.
True, the head of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, Konstantin Kosachev, is much more cautious in his assessments.
“For now, I am not inclined to exaggerate the significance of what is happening and believe that Montenegro will be the locomotive of Russian interests in the West. Russia is not expecting radical, but qualitative changes in bilateral relations with Montenegro,” the senator noted.
At the same time, Knezevic, answering a question about his attitude towards NATO, said that he and his colleagues opposed Montenegro’s entry into the alliance, “but this happened in 2017 and no one can cancel this decision.”
Let us recall that the decision to join NATO was made by the Montenegrin parliament three years ago. Given the split in society on this issue, the authorities did not risk holding a referendum.
Moreover, experts believe it is premature to talk about the fall of pro-Western President Milo Djukanovic in Montenegro following the parliamentary elections.
Montenegrin opposition justifies its decision to no longer abandon NATO