Defence minister Burchuladze, NATO Sec-Gen Stoltenberg discuss alliance's regional involvement, Georgian reforms

The NATO head praised the reforms and the level of compatibility of the Georgian Defence Forces in his comments. He also reiterated “firm support” for Georgia’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Photo: video grab.

Agenda.ge, 17 Feb 2022 - 14:28, Tbilisi,Georgia

NATO’s “enhanced involvement” in the Black Sea region amid growing security challenges, and reforms being undertaken in Georgia's defence sector were on the agenda as Georgian defence minister Juansher Burchuladze met NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels earlier today.

Held during the NATO defence ministerial on Thursday, the meeting saw the Georgian minister and Stoltenberg discuss common security challenges and recent threats from Russia in the region.

Prospects of deepening NATO-Georgia cooperation and reforms implemented by the defence ministry for increasing the country’s compatibility with NATO were also reviewed.

The NATO head praised the reforms and the level of compatibility of the Georgian Defence Forces in his comments. He also reiterated “firm support” for Georgia’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The meeting also focused on the 2022 NATO-Georgia Exercise, set to take place in Georgia in March for the third time, with the involvement of over 20 alliance member and partner countries.

Stoltenberg welcomed both the Georgian defence minister and his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov today in Brussels, emphasising “NATO’s strong political and practical support” for Georgia and Ukraine, adding the alliance has “close coordination” with both countries amid rising tensions in the region. 

Meetings of NATO ministers of defence in Brussels began on Wednesday and their sessions will be hosted through Thursday.