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Pence in Montenegro today: USA makes it clear – the region not to be left to Russia

US Vice President Mike Pence is to arrive this afternoon on an official two-day visit to Montenegro.

Pence arrives to Podgorica at about 6pm. Security measures in Podgorica have been enhanced – strong police forces are guarding the entire space around the Hilton hotel, where Pence, his wife and the US delegation will stay. The surrounding streets are closed for traffic.

Before visiting Montenegro, Pence visited the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. He is in Georgia today.

The US Vice President is visiting the countries that used to be under strong Russian influence until recently. Those countries practically escaped to be protected under the auspices of the West and NATO.

Montenegro felt how pronounced Russia’s influence was. Therefore the Pence’s should perhaps be understood as the beginning of more active support of the United States related to this issue.

Military analyst Aleksandar Radic told CdM that Pence’s visit to Montenegro was expected, since “an anti-Russian sentiment in Washington is currently strong”.

Montenegro delegation in Washington

 

“The United States wants to implement some concrete actions in the Balkans, and Montenegro has a particularly specific importance, since it has become a full member of NATO,” Radic said.

He pointed out that with this visit, Washington wants to make it clear that it sees the topic of the Russian presence in the Balkans as extremely important.

“This is the beginning of developments that will show that the US has woken up when it comes to Russian influence in the Balkans. Until now, Washington has considered that everything in the region was predictable enough and that the US did not have to deal with it. However, it realised that this is not the case now, and that they should be actively engaged in the fight against Russian influence. By Pence’s visit, the US makes it clear that it does not want to give any more room for affirmation of Russian political interests,” Radic said.

According to him, Russia is primarily interested in the former USSR territory. However, now it is possible for Russia to try to achieve its interests in the regions of Syria and Balkans, at least in the short term.

“On the other hand, the West failed to award the Balkans for implementing pro-western policy and to motivate the region in a way. It opens space for Russian influence. The West has fairly neglected its presence in the Balkans, believing that the region will do everything to be part of the EU. However, little has been shown as an encouragement that something concrete is being done,” said Radic.

The government also state that Pence’s visit was of crucial importance.

“The visit of the Vice President of the USA is another confirmation of the excellent political relations between Montenegro and the United States and the strategic partnership of the two countries,” the government said.

As announced, the official talks between Markovic and Pence will be held on Wednesday morning.

Pence is the highest-ranking US official to visit Montenegro in over a hundred years since the two countries established diplomatic relations.

“At the same time, this will be the first visit to the region of top officials and first associate of US President Donald Tramp,” the statement said.

Pence will take part at the Adriatic Charter Summit in Podgorica tomorrow.

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