Montenegro has officially become the 29th member of NATO

Montenegro has officially become the 29th member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). A ceremony was held in Washington to mark the accession on Monday.

Montenegrin Prime Minister Dusko Markovic told US Vice President Mike Pence that his country aimed to meeting the NATO target of spending two percent of its GDP on defense by 2024.

Montenegro's accession to NATO happened despite strong opposition from Russia, which warned of retaliation against Montenegro's "hostile course". Tensions between NATO and Russia have escalated as both are engaged in military build-up along the Russian border. Moscow strongly opposes the bloc's eastward expansion, which it says threatens its national security.

(CGTN)