Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to assist Montenegro's application to join NATO.

Sir Alan Duncan, Minister of State for Europe and the Americas at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office: Following the signing of Montenegro's Accession Protocol last May, the UK was the first major NATO Ally to ratify it in November 2016. The Foreign Secretary met with Montenegrin Foreign Minister Darmanovic in the margins of the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting on 7 December 2016 and reiterated the UK's strong support for Montenegro's accession. He also urged other NATO Allies to ensure that their own ratification processes proceeded as swiftly as possible, to ensure that Montenegro can take its place as the 29th member of the Alliance in the first half of 2017.

In addition to political support, the UK has provided practical assistance throughout the accession process. We have for example continued to provide capacity building support in a range of areas, including strategic communications, public diplomacy and senior defence leadership training. We hope shortly to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that will underpin military cooperation between the UK and Montenegro.

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