[ad_1]
"We have no intention of starting World War III, we are too small for that," the country's foreign minister, Srdjan Darmanovic, told CNN in an exclusive interview.
The new NATO member was put in the limelight when Trump called his people "very aggressive" and warned him during an interview with Tucker Fox News Carlson Tuesday.
Carlson asked why the United States should defend Montenegro. Trump replied: "I asked the same question: Montenegro is a small country with very strong people … They are very strong people, very aggressive, they can become aggressive, and congratulations, you are in the Third World War. "
Montenegro joined NATO in 2017. Russia , which maintains close relations with neighboring Serbia, opposed its accession. The Montenegrin government accuses Moscow of orchestrating a coup d'etat to prevent it from joining NATO.
Darmanovic, Minister of Foreign Affairs, agreed that Trump's comments would be welcome in Moscow. "It could be music for their ears, but I believe we are not any less safe," he said. "We truly believe that Article 5 is unconditional and rock-solid."
On the waterfront in the capital, Podgorica, Trump's remarks were greeted with disbelief. "Maybe he's making a mistake? No, do I look like an aggressive man? I think no!" a resident said laughing.
"I do not know what to say, I think it's really stupid," another local told CNN.
A leader of the NATO has characterized the Article 5 collective defense clause as "unconditional and rigid"
