US Secretary of Defense: US supports Georgia’s European, Euro-Atlantic aspirations
Tweet 
Share
The United States (US) Secretary of Defense James Mattis said the US strongly supports Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
Georgian delegation headed by Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili met with the US Secretary Mattis at the 54th Munich Security Conference today.
Thanking Mattis for his strong and active support towards Georgia, PM Kvirikashvili said the last year has been of the special importance for Georgia in terms of cooperation with the new US administration.
Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze also attended the meeting. Janelidze shared some issues of discussion with the American friends and strategic partners on his Twitter page.
Excellent meeting btwn friends and strategic partners, discussing regional security and role of #Georgia-US relations, #US support to #GE territorial integrity, defence and Euroatlantic path. https://t.co/IoGPHRbvH5pic.twitter.com/KIqzS6LxlW
— Mikheil Janelidze (@JanelidzeMkh) February 17, 2018
The regional security, Russia’s aggressive actions in the Georgian occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and the human rights violation in the two breakaway regions were among the issues Georgian and American officials discussed at the meeting.
Special attention was paid to the Georgian defence reforms and capabilities of the country's armed forces.
American officials believe Georgia makes huge contribution to the regional and global security especially with its soldiers serving in international missions.
Up to date Georgia is the largest non-NATO force contributor and per capita contributor to the mission in Afghanistan.
The Georgian delegation is headed by Prime Minister Kvirikashvili, at a conference which is bringing together heads of states from more than 30 countries, and more than 100 ministers worldwide.
The Georgian delegation includes Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze, Defense Minister Levan Izoria, Minister of Culture and Sport Mikheil Giorgadze, Head of the State Security Service Vakhtang Gomelauri, and the Prime Minister's Foreign Adviser Tedo Japaridze.
US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has commended Georgian Defence Minister Levan Izoria for Georgia's ongoing commitment to defence reforms and to strengthening the capabilities of the country's armed forces through robust defence spending at 2.2 percent of the country's gross domestic product.
The U.S. Department of State has released the US Congressional Budget Justification for 2018, where $34.1 million is considered for Georgia.
Georgia and the United States are celebrating the 25th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties. The occasion is marked by a two week-long festival of American culture that has already kicked off in Georgia.
"US-Georgia defence cooperation advances to new level"
Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili says the defence and security cooperation between Georgia and the United States is advancing to a "whole new level”.
Georgia will host various events co-organized by the Munich Security Conference (MSC) next year. This is the decision that the Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and the Chairman of MSC Wolfgang Ischinger have made today.
The United States (US) Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Wes Mitchell has expressed his appreciation for the US-Georgia partnership. Mitchell had a phone conversation with the Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili yesterday.
Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze is paying a four-day visit to Washington, United States (US). During his working visit to the US on April 3-6, Minister Janelidze has scheduled meetings at the US Department of State, the Office of the US Trade Representative and leading experts of scientific research centers working on Georgian issues.
The US Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Aaron Wess Mitchell stated at a NATO-Georgia public diplomacy forum in Tbilisi today that the US President Donald Trump supports the 2008 NATO Bucharest declaration and appeals to alliance member states to adhere to the obligations taken within the declaration.
The American general will attend the three year long Georgian Defence Readiness Program launch ceremony with the Defence Minister and also will participate in the opening of the Combat Training Center at the Vaziani military base.