Montenegro’s membership, which looked likely to be approved in the Spring of 2014, was postponed until next year. NATO leadership cited "more reforms in the rule of law" as part of their rationale.
However, inclusion of these three potential new members is not just about ‘rule of law’--its about NATO's rationale for this organization in today's world, and its relationship with the Russians.
With the recent event that have occurred in Georgia (2008) and Ukraine (2014), NATO has some soul-searching questions to consider regarding future expansion and its willingness to meet the commitments that acccompany the new member nations.
This paper will explore the problems associated with the entry of Montenegro, Macedonia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina to NATO, and how the Russians are attemting to block their ambitions. How willing is NATO to puruse expansion, expecially when some of its members are now complaining of “expansion fatigue?”
Indeed, will there be a renewed race to bring these three former Yugoslav states into NATO, or will the west postpone, or even abandon the ambitions of Montenegro, Macedonia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. This paper will explore the troubling and conflicting dynamics of NATO membership—both from within these countries—and between NATO and Russia.”
