Montenegro has the same population as the Lehigh Valley. It is seldom that countries so small can become a litmus test for American foreign policy. Pennsylvania was built on the backs of immigrants from central and eastern Europe. Today our European alliance deserves the full attention of Sens. Bob Casey and Pat Toomey.
NATO formally invited Montenegro to become its 29th member on May 19. The last remaining obstacle has been the Protocol of Accession by the legislatures of all 28 existing NATO members. This means approval in the U.S. Senate by a two- thirds majority.
On Jan. 11 the Foreign Relations Committee cast a strong bipartisan vote for the second time in five weeks. Weeks later, as parliamentarians in allied capitals watch, the full Senate has not voted.
Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson stated more than once during his confirmation hearing the importance of NATO, using terms like “inviolable.” Defense Secretary Jim Mattis called his counterparts in Canada and the United Kingdom, speaking of an “unshakeable commitment” to NATO. Russian President Vladimir Putin has positioned land and sea-based nuclear-capable missiles just miles from NATO allies Poland and Lithuania.
A vote to enlarge NATO can be a much-needed dose of bipartisanship both in Washington and on the world stage. Honoring the heritage of countless Pennsylvania families with roots in central and eastern Europe, Casey and Toomey should advocate to their colleagues and their leadership to demonstrate that Democrats and Republicans can agree on the importance of NATO.
Ari Mittleman
South Whitehall Township
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