Q: How is Georgia progressing with its European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations?
A: It is imperative to appreciate how important our EU and NATO aspirations are embraced by the Georgian people. A recent poll by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) indicated that 80% of Georgian citizens support the government’s goal of EU membership and 74% approve of joining the NATO alliance. Support for NATO has soared by 12% over the past ten years.
Even as we face the challenges of the global pandemic, we believe the wind is at our back when it comes to our European and NATO member aspirations. Our government is hard at work preparing for a full EU membership application in 2024. EU membership is the north star guiding all of our activities.
Concerning NATO, we deeply appreciate Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent remarks at his Senate confirmation hearing in support of the NATO Open Door Policy in the context of Georgia’s aspirations to become a member of the Alliance.
US support in the security realm, aimed at increasing Georgia’s defense capabilities, resilience, and full interoperability with NATO has been critical to getting us to this point. As recent years have seen, the transfer of Javelin missile systems to Georgia, successful implementation of the GDRP, joint annual military exercises Noble Partner and Agile Spirit, and the increased cooperation on Black Sea security are a few specific examples of our excellent cooperation.
Thanks to these joint efforts, today Georgia is NATO-ready. We strongly hope that the political decision on Georgia’s NATO membership will soon become a reality.
Q: What does the next phase of US-Georgia security cooperation during the Biden Administration look like?
A: The security-related challenges our two nations share are diverse and demanding. The hybrid toolbox extensively used by malign external actors must be tackled through international cooperation and joint response. I am pleased that a solid foundation has already been laid by our countries to further expand existing and robust security cooperation and to deal with immediate challenges including cybersecurity, 5G networks, and critical infrastructure protection.
We Georgians are strong believers in the central role of the United States in global affairs by promoting peace, security, and democratic ideals. Georgia rightfully prides itself as a staunch US partner and ally in the region and beyond. In that spirit, I look forward to a continued close cooperation with the Biden Administration to further strengthen the bonds of friendship and the strategic partnership between our nations.
Q: You’ve been a champion of stronger US-Georgia relations for many years, what area of US-Georgia cooperation brings you the greatest pride?
A: The shared commitment of our countries to work together brings significant tangible results to improve the lives of our people. A prime example of American assistance for which we are eternally grateful is the life-saving work of the Richard Lugar Center in Tbilisi. Amidst the global pandemic, the Lugar Center has been at the forefront of our efforts to combat the pandemic and keep our citizens safe and healthy. Assistance and support provided by the US in recent decades, including for Georgia’s healthcare sector, has been critical in fighting Covid-19, improving our economy and maintaining our security.