NATO invites Montenegro to join alliance despite opposition from Russia

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, right, and Montenegro's Foreign Minister Igor Luksic address a media conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015. NATO member states have formally invited the tiny Adriatic nation of Montenegro to join the alliance in the face of Russian opposition to the move. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) (The Associated Press)

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U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, center, speaks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, center left, during a round table meeting of the North Atlantic Council at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015. NATO member states have formally invited the tiny Adriatic nation of Montenegro to join the alliance in the face of Russian opposition to the move. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) (The Associated Press)

NATO member states have formally invited the tiny Adriatic nation of Montenegro to join the alliance in the face of Russian opposition.

Alliance Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced the invitation on Wednesday, the second day of a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers.

The announcement sets in motion an accession process that will continue over months before Montenegro formally becomes the 29th member of the alliance — its first expansion since fellow Balkan countries Albania and Croatia were admitted in 2009.

Russia has repeated its opposition to the accession of Montenegro, a favored getaway spot and investment site for some Russians.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/nato-invites-montenegro-to-join-alliance-despite-opposition-from-russia