Montenegro officials today welcomed the US Senate's decision to ratify its entry into NATO, calling it a great step for the tiny Balkan nation.<br/><br/>Montenegro is set to become NATO's 29th member following the Senate's overwhelming ratification yesterday. Russia strongly opposes the Western military alliance's expansion in the Balkans. <br/><br/><br/>Russia has been accused by Montenegro of trying to stage an election day coup in October to try to keep the country out of the alliance.<br/><br/><br/>Montenegro Prime Minister Dusko Markovic said that Montenegro never doubted US support for the country. He said Montenegro's membership in NATO will be its biggest foreign policy success since it gained independence and split from much-bigger Serbia in a 2006 referendum.<br/><br/>Russia considers Montenegro and other western Balkan states part of its sphere of interest. Wary of Russian influence in the still-volatile region, NATO wants Montenegro to join the alliance.''<br/><br/>Despite its size, Montenegro bears strategic importance. A former ally of Russia, the country is in the middle of a clash between the West and Moscow over influence in the Balkans.Ratification from Spain and the Netherlands is still pending ahead of a NATO summit in May. <br/>''''''<br/><br/><br/>