washingtonin first major speech congress tuesday president donald trump assure u.s. ally commit nato fellow republicans block senate vote expand alliance months delay senate consideration montenegro accession alliance fuel question whether trump administration party stand russia despite president desire good relations moscow oppose expansion north atlantic treaty organization montenegro former yugoslav republic population 650,000 hop win approval 28 nato ally time become full member summit may late february approve 24. members see montenegro accession way counter russia efforts expand influence balkans senate foreign relations committee twice vote favor montenegro first december january objections republican senators rand paul mike lee block vote full senate september hear paul question wisdom anger russia allow tiny country could play significant role defend unite state join trans-atlantic alliance think need think need little bite debate say wednesday paul say still object sure add defense sure great idea somehow montenegro go defend unite state paul tell reuters spokesman lee say senator object senate consider matter quick voice vote say want roll call every member position would record lee make opinion montenegro accession public spokesman say ask roll call vote would schedule spokesman majority leader mitch mcconnell say update provide senate vote montenegro accession expect receive two-thirds majority need pass montenegrin foreign minister srdjan darmanovic tell reuters last month assure senate would ratify country accession may trump call close tie moscow criticize nato obsolete speech joint session congress tuesday night reaffirm support alliance say expect u.s. ally pay cost security need montenegrin officials blame moscow extend campaign intend prevent country join nato last month say evidence russia involve plot overthrow government election last october accusation moscow dismiss charge echo assertions u.s. intelligence russia seek interfere 2016 u.s. election trump could still keep montenegro join refuse formally deposit country protocol accession would signal significant rift party congress trump tout support nato expansion languish senate