Former commander of US Army Europe Hodges: NATO should invite Georgia to membership at its next summit

Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, who served as the commanding general of the United States Army Europe, says that Georgia has left nothing to prove and NATO should invite the country to membership during its next summit, Hodges told Voice of America in an interview.

I believe that Georgia should be invited to NATO during the next summit. I firmly support this. However, I know that many do not share the position and they are concerned that 20 per cent of Georgia is currently occupied by Russia. However, there is a precedent in NATO when a country was invited for the membership when its territories were occupied. The example is Germany,” Hodges said.

Hodges spoke about Georgia’s potential in Black Sea security and stated that the country is able to play an important role in strengthening the security of the Black Sea region.

Hodges stated that Georgia’s economic potential will significantly increase after the construction of the Anaklia deep sea port, a 2.5 billion USD project which is scheduled to be completed in two years with the involvement of Georgian, American and other countries’ companies.

Hodges has visited Georgia several times. The last visit took place in 2017. Photo: Defence Ministry press office. 

Anaklia has high potential to become a European and Eurasian regional logistic centre. I believe that after the launch of the port the United States and other member countries of NATO will become more interested to ensure the safety of the country, as Georgia’s role in the economic field will be seriously grown,” Hodges said

Hodges stated that before Georgia becomes a NATO member it should be closely involved in Black Sea security.

There is a need for programmes which will help Georgia refine its military capabilities,” Hodges said.

He said that the US has already announced plans to build a joint aerodrome in Georgia.

No one has expectations that Georgia will have big and powerful naval forces on the Black sea. It is more about joint exercises, exchange of intelligence data, enforcement of air and land self-defence capabilities, which will aim to protect the Georgian people,” Hodges said.

He said that Georgia’s NATO membership will be profitable not only for the country, but also for the alliance.