US Defence secretary to visit Georgia next week
Lloyd Austin was sworn in as the 28th Secretary of Defense of the US on January 22, 2021. Photo: EPA.
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US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit Georgia, Romania, Ukraine and Brussels next week, Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby said at a briefing yesterday.
Austin and his team will be preparing for a trip to Europe next week. They will stay in Georgia, Ukraine and Romania, and he (Austin) will also conclude this important visit with allies and partners in Brussels, where the meeting of NATO defense ministers will take place,” Kirby said.
He did not disclose further details of the visit such as exact dates.
At a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the end of August, Austin said that the US would provide the country with a new $60 million military aid package, as well as sign an agreement on reforms necessary for Ukraine to join NATO.
The United States has given a multiple integrated laser engagement system (MILES) to the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre (JTEC), 'where it will be used to enhance the realism of combat training for the Georgian Defence Forces', announces the US Embassy to Georgia.
The United States is funding the equipment of the Georgian Defence Forces with 600 M249 portable, gas operated, light machine guns, or Squad Automatic Weapons (SAW) 'as part of our commitment to Georgia's defence and territorial integrity', announces the US Embassy to 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.
US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel met with Georgia’s Defense Minister Irakli Alasania at the Pentagon on May 7.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani says that the visit of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to Georgia next week is ‘historic’ and reaffirms America’s strong support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and the country’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Zalkaliani said earlier today that the visit points to the ‘special attitude’ of the US to strategic partnership with Georgia, which is based on ‘common values, interests and goals.’
The US department of defence has announced that during his meetings with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze, Austin will underscore the importance of the US-Georgia strategic partnership in addressing regional and global security challenges as well.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrived in Georgia earlier today, on what Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said was ‘a historic visit.’ FM Zalkaliani stated last week that the visit ‘reaffirms America’s strong support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and the country’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations.’ Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze and US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan welcomed Austin at Tbilisi International Airport.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Georgian Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze signed a memorandum of understanding on the Georgia Defense and Deterrence Enhancement (GDDE) Initiative earlier today in Tbilisi. “This initiative marks a new phase of our bilateral security cooperation, and it demonstrates the US’ commitment to supporting Georgia,” Austin said.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Tbilisi earlier today, where he said that the American official’s visit ‘is a very strong message in support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.’