The Dinaric Alps are a large European geographical unit connecting Slovenia and Montenegro, whose capitals, Ljubljana and Podgorica, which are 553 km apart as the crow flies, are located right next to their northwestern and southeastern edges, respectively. The two countries are also connected by the Adriatic with its geographical and cultural Mediterranean influences. In addition, they are also linked historically, having belonged, either in full or in part, to the same larger states, such as the Republic of Venice, France’s Illyrian Provinces, the Habsburg Monarchy, and Yugoslavia. Slovenia has been an independent country since 1991 and Montenegro since 2006. Slovenia was the first country to open its embassy in Montenegro.