Stoltenberg: Georgia, Ukraine are high-valued partners of NATO for many reasons

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has stated that Georgia and Ukraine are high-valued partners of NATO ‘for many reasons’ and that the importance of the two states has particularly increased due to the strategic importance of the Black Sea region. 

Contribution to the NATO mission in Afghanistan was named as one of the reasons why the countries are important for NATO. 

Working with partners like Georgia and Ukraine (in terms of the Black Sea region), consulting with them and listening to them will be an important part of NATO-2030 process,” Stoltenberg stated during an online press conference earlier today ahead of the NATO virtual defence ministerial on October 22-23. 

Stoltenberg stated in April 2020 that NATO decided to deepen partnerships with Georgia and Ukraine, including exercises in the ‘strategic Black Sea region’.

Video by NATO.

The question about Georgia and Ukraine is at 43:58.

Stoltenberg said this includes joint work to counter hybrid warfare, as well as efforts to share more air traffic radar data, “making the skies safer for all”. 

Georgia is the largest non-NATO contributor to the Resolute Support mission with 871 soldiers.

The Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan was launched in 2015 and involves more than 16,000 personnel from nearly 40 NATO member and partner countries.

The mission serves to train, advise and assist Afghan defence and security forces and support them through funding.

Thirty-two Georgian soldiers have been killed and dozens injured in NATO-led peace missions in Afghanistan.