In his first visit to Georgia, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin sent a powerful message on the strength of the US-Georgia alliance that was underscored by the extension of the U.S. security pact with Georgia, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to the country, the bilateral security cooperation and further integration of Washington and Tbilisi.
“I wanted to be here in person today because the United States values Georgia as a strong strategic partner and our support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering” the Secretary of Defense said at a press conference on Monday.
While visiting, the Secretary Austin signed the Georgia Defense and Deterrence Enhancement Initiative with Georgian Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze, which will build off the 2018 training program and extend the U.S.-Georgia security pact by six years. The initiative works on improving Georgia’s defense institutions and “fostering interoperability with NATO,” Secretary Austin said. The Georgian Defense Minister stated in response to the signing that Georgia’s relationship with the United States “has never been so strong and multifaceted as it is today.”
Secretary Austin met with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, where the two discussed a wide range of issues, including security in the region and the ongoing Russian occupation of 20% of Georgian sovereign territory. In a tweet, Prime Minister Garibashvili stated that he was, “Delighted to meet w/ @SecDef during his official visit. With our battle-tested strategic partnership, we continue to put joint efforts in fight against terrorism & organized crime. Discussed bilateral co-op in defense & security sectors, Black Sea & ’s & #NATO aspirations.” Georgian Foreign David Zalkaliani also added in a tweet that the, “Visit of [U.S.] @SecDef to [Georgia] is a strong demonstration of [the U.S.]’s firm support for [Georgia], our robust strategic p’ship & strengthening [Georgia]’s defense capabilities. Had an excellent discussion on our future coop. & regional security. Focused on [Georgia]’s important role in peacekeeping across t/region.”
The Prime Minister also highlighted Georgia’s commitment to regional security, including his request for U.S. engagement in his “Peaceful Neighborhood Initiative” that the Prime Minister announced at this year’s UNGA meeting in New York. “At the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly, I proposed a Peaceful Neighborhood Initiative aimed at facilitating dialogue and confidence-building, while promoting stability in the region. We look forward to US support and engagement in this process,” Prime Minister Garibashvili said.
After visiting Georgia, Secretary Austin in a tweet thanked Prime Minister Garibashvili for his hospitality and for the opportunity to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to Georgian sovereignty and territorial integrity. The U.S. Defense Secretary will now head to Ukraine and Romania to reassert U.S. interests in the Black Sea and further discuss the security challenges posed by Russian aggression. “The Department of Defense steadfastly supports its European Allies and partners in the face of Russia’s destabilizing actions in the critical Black Sea region, and the Secretary looks forward to meeting with his counterparts and other senior officials to reinforce the United States’ commitment to a safe, stable, and prosperous Europe,” the Department of Defense said in a statement.
The agreements and commitments reached, as Secretary Austin said, “mark a new phase of our bilateral security cooperation” and “demonstrates the U.S. commitment to supporting Georgia.” The Defense Secretary further reaffirmed that the door to NATO membership remains open, with his visit highlighting the elevated partnership between the two countries. After concluding his Black Sea trip, Secretary Austin will leave for Belgium to attend his first in-person NATO Defense Ministerial, where he will meet with NATO allies and where the increased U.S. focus on the region will surely be discussed.
