Montenegro "contributes to peace and stability not only on the European continent but worldwide, along with US soldiers in Afghanistan," it said in a statement.

"Montenegro is proud of its history, tradition and peaceful politics that led to the position of a stabilising state in the region and the only state in which the war didn't rage during disintegration of the former Yugoslavia," the government added.

Montenegro also underscored that its alliance with the US remained "strong and permanent."

The response comes several days after Trump ignited outrage across Europe and the US with his broadside, which many interpreted as the latest sign of the US president's shaky commitment to the NATO alliance, which Montenegro joined last year.

In a response to a question about NATO's common defence clause, Trump said he sympathised with Fox News host Tucker Carlson's weariness about sending US soldiers to defend a country like Montenegro.

"Why should my son go to Montenegro to defend it from attack?" Fox News host Tucker Carlson asked Trump about the country of 620,000.

Trump responded: "I understand what you're saying. I've asked the same question."

"Montenegro is a tiny country with very strong people... They're very aggressive people. They may get aggressive, and congratulations, you're in World War III," Trump added.

Montenegro joined NATO in June 2017, despite strong opposition from part of the population and violent demonstrations in 2015.

The move infuriated Russia, with whom relations have soured in recent years as the Balkan nation forges closer ties with the West.