US Senator Portman: Biden administration should urge NATO to provide MAP for Georgia, Ukraine

US Senator Rob Portman has spoken about the threats Georgia and Ukraine face from Russia. Photo: Associated Press.

Agenda.ge, 10 Jun 2021 - 13:10, Tbilisi,Georgia

US Senator Rob Portman, who has recently visited Georgia, stated that the US government should urge NATO ahead of the June 14 summit to provide a membership action plan (MAP) for Georgia and Ukraine.

In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Portman said that getting both countries on the path to NATO membership would help protect them against Russian aggression.

The US must continue to stand with democracies under threat and opposed to Russia’s tyranny. When President Biden meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva later this month, he must take a strong stand for freedom, democracy and human rights. The free world will be watching,” Portman stated.

He also said that Georgia is one of America’s closest allies in the region, ‘so Russia’s actions should be concerning.’

Portman recalled his recent trip in Eastern Europe and said that ‘what I found most troubling on this trip was the renewed Russian effort to destabilize these young democracies.’

He said that Georgia and Ukraine have become ‘reliable US allies as their citizens have sought a democratic future with greater freedom and prosperity. But they need our help.’