The Daily Signal: “U.S. Should Support NATO Membership for Georgia”

Georgia’s aspirations to be a future as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) should be fostered and encouraged, not pushed aside, writes Dorin Methfessel for The Daily Signal website.

The ‘Alliance and Strategic Partnership’ treaty between the Russian Federation and Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region has drawn significant criticism from all over the world and NATO should accelerate Georgia’s NATO membership plans rather than hinder them as a way to promote stability in the region.

"…the U.S. and its NATO allies need to continually reinforce the idea among Georgian officials that Georgia’s future lies in the transatlantic community, not with Russia. NATO did not grant Membership Action Plan status to Georgia at its 2014 Wales Summit, despite the organization’s promise in 2008 to eventually grant membership to Georgia."

Although some NATO members fear that such a move would spark a conflict with Russia over Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Georgia has committed to a non–use-of-force pledge in those regions. Additionally, Georgian officials have made it clear that membership would not include the breakaway regions until the matter is resolved peacefully with Russia,” writes Methfessel.

"Georgia would be an asset to NATO and an example for other NATO members. It is in U.S. interests to offer strong leadership in support of Georgia’s eventual membership in NATO.”

Read the full article here: www.dailysignal.com