US Secretary of Defense candidate voices future plans, involving Georgia

If Ash Carter is chosen as the next United States (US) Secretary of Defense, he plans to help Georgia build its security capacity and military interoperability with NATO.

He said the US and NATO should reject Russian assertions that Moscow is entitled to a "sphere of influence" in Eastern Europe — and build militaries capable of handling "any opponent," in a 42-page document prepared for the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"I reject the notion that Russia should be afforded a 'sphere of influence,' " Carter wrote.

"If confirmed, I will continue to encourage US partners, such as Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine, to build their security capacity and military interoperability with NATO."

Carter , who was nominated by President Obama on December 5, 2014, to replace Chuck Hagel as the US Secretary of Defense, believed the US should maintain its lead role in "collective defense planning" among NATO allies. He also said he would urge allies "to invest in military capabilities that can impose costs on any opponent", while at the same time he would encourage large and small NATO allies to invest more money and resources "in capabilities that are needed by the alliance."