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BRUSSELS (AP) — 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.

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