Susan Collins Says Russia Had Truly Provocative Reaction to Montenegro Joining NATO

Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine says she’s alarmed over Russian reaction to NATO’s newest member, a country with close military ties to Maine: Montenegro.

“The Maine National Guard has a longtime state partnership with Montenegro, and actually helped them get ready for ascension into NATO — something I’m very proud of,” she says.

The Balkan country, part of the former Yugoslavia, became the 29th member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on June 5.

Speaking at an Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Collins told Defense Secretary James Mattis that she’s concerned by Russian statements indicating possible “retaliation.”

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