US Senator Shaheen: ‘we need to seriously consider NATO membership for Ukraine, Georgia’
US Senator Jean Shaheen says that Russia’s first play to subvert democracy in Eastern Europe started with Georgia. Photo: Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images.
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US Senator Jeanne Shaheen says that the US and NATO need to seriously consider NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia, or at least provide a clear path for entry.
In her op-ed for US Today titled ‘A wake-up call for the West: When Joe Biden meets Vladimir Putin, don’t ignore Belarus’ Shaheen speaks about Russia’s destruction actions in the region and says that ‘Russia’s first play to subvert democracy in Eastern Europe started with Georgia.’
Both (Georgia and Ukraine) want to join (NATO), which would be devastating for Putin’s plans. Since its inception, NATO has been open to countries who make the sovereign decision to join, and approved unanimously, and it should not be any different now. Reforms are required to ensure the alliance would be gaining strong allies, but failure to act would deliver a victory for Putin,” Shaheen said.
Shaheen has recalled her recent visit at the occupation line in Georgia and urged for closer business and investment cooperation between the US, Ukraine and Georgia.
The United States and the EU say in a joint statement released following the June 14 NATO summit that they will support the reform path of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. “We resolve to work towards long-term peace, resilience and stability in the South Caucasus,” said the statement which is composed of 36 notes, with two notes about Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova. The statement has condemned ‘Russia's continued actions to undermine Ukraine’s and Georgia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence’.
“Georgia’s relationship with the alliance contains all the practical tools to prepare for eventual membership. We are working closely with Georgia on security in the Black Sea region, in response to Russia’s increasingly destabilising activities, and welcome the steps taken to implement the refreshed Substantial NATO-Georgia Package. We stand ready to enhance our support to Georgia, including in building resilience against hybrid threats, in training and exercises, and in secure communications. We look forward to the next NATO-Georgia exercise in 2022,” said the communique.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has stated that not only Georgia but regional countries have been subjected to emerging security threats and urged for joint efforts against the challenge.“We are looking into ways to protect ourselves,” Garibashvili said as a keynote speaker at the Brussels forum today which is being held during the June 14-18 NATO summit and comprises several thematic panels, including the Investing in Resilience panel where Garibashvili was invited to deliver his speech.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said ahead of the upcoming NATO summit that the progress that Georgia has achieved on its path to NATO integration will be adequately assessed and respected.
Georgians and Ukrainians are holding a rally in Geneva amid the ongoing meeting of the US and Russian President's Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin, protesting the Russian occupation of Georgian and Ukrainian territories and calling upon the world to stand against Russia’s destructive actions in the region.
The European Union says it will continue to raise Russia’s consistent breaches of international law in Ukraine, Georgia, and elsewhere prominently, including through initiatives with like-minded partners.
Spanish diplomat Javier Colomina has taken the office of the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia today. He will also serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.