Georgia-US sign new defense agreement, marking ‘new phase’ in security cooperation
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Georgian Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze met in Tbilisi earlier today. Photo: US embassy press office.
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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.
He said that GDDE will be the continuation of Georgia’s Defense Readiness Program ‘which has served the US’ efforts for more than three years to help Georgia boost its self-defense capabilities.’
I’m honored to join Minister Burchuladze in signing a Memorandum of Understanding on the Georgia Defense and Deterrence Enhancement Initiative. This initiative marks a new phase of our bilateral security cooperation, and it demonstrates the U.S. commitment to supporting Georgia. pic.twitter.com/LSlOts33gw
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) October 18, 2021
Austin stated that the US values Georgia as its ‘firm, strategic partner,’ and that America's support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is irreversible.
Austin stated that the Georgian Defense Readiness Program will be used as a basis for GDDE and that the US will continue to encourage institutional reforms in Georgia’s defense field, boost the country’s defense and deterrence capabilities and its compatibility with NATO standards.
He said the new agreement points at the US’ ‘long-term policy to support Georgia’s defense and the country’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations.’
Austin noted that for its part, the Georgian government should reinforce democracy and carry out ‘fundamental reforms’ which are necessary for the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration.
Thank you to Minister Burchuladze for extending such a warm welcome on my first visit to Georgia as Secretary of Defense. The United States values Georgia as a strategic partner, and our support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering. pic.twitter.com/Z2yu8RuNRR
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) October 18, 2021
Austin has also commented on the 3+3 format proposed by Turkey and Iran for the Caucasus with Azerbaijan, Russia, Armenia and Georgia, and said that ‘first Russia must respect the 2008 ceasefire agreement with Georgia’ and withdraw its forces from Georgian territory.
He stated that it is better for the south Caucasian countries to strengthen cooperation for regional security.
Burchuladze said that Austin’s first official visit to Georgia ‘reaffirms a strong strategic partnership between the US and Georgia and serves the goal of further strengthening bilateral cooperation.’
The Marine Corps Embassy Security Group exemplify their motto “Discipline, Vigilance, and Professionalism” every single day to ensure our embassies and consulates are safe and secure. pic.twitter.com/LnOEFZkYCq
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) October 18, 2021
We have had a very important meeting which concerned main threats and challenges for Georgia, in the region and in the world, and underlined that the US-Georgia strategic partnership has never been so firm,” Burchuladze said.
He stated that the US-Georgia ‘close partnership’ supports Georgia’s stable development and maintaining of peace and security in the region.
The GDDE is a critically important agreement, further upgrading the US-Georgia defence cooperation,” Burchuladze said.
Burchuladze said that the prospects of modernisation of armament for the Georgian army and the ministry’s 10-year-development plan have also been discussed at the meeting, as well as Black Sea security.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.’
While in Tbilisi yesterday on his first official visit, Austin met with Georgian Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze and Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. "In both meetings, Austin discussed the regional security situation and, in particular, the threat posed by Russia to Georgia and Black Sea region. Austin conveyed unwavering US support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the US Department of Defence stated earlier today.
“Thank you for hosting me in Georgia and for supporting the US-Georgia strategic partnership”, says US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in his official letter to Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
United States Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin sat down with Minister of Defence of Georgia Juansher Burchuladze in one of the few meetings the American official held at the NATO ministerial in Brussels on Thursday, with the discussion covering questions of strategic cooperation between the partnering countries.
Rangers of Georgia’s Special Operation Forces joined their American colleagues for defence drills in the east of the country under a joint programme, the Georgian Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.
Brigadier General Edward Vaughan of the United States European Command has commended the steps taken as part of the Georgia Defence and Deterrence Enhancement Initiative, an agreement signed last year, during his visit to the country on Friday for an interim assessment of the mechanism that aims to modernise and develop the Georgian Defence Forces with US support.
Georgia’s United States Ambassador David Zalkaliani on Friday said his country’s defence and security ties with the US had reached an “all-time high”, in comments on the meeting between the top defence officials of the two countries in the Pentagon on Thursday that came together with an announcement of additional $33 million in security aid for Georgia.
Robin Dunnigan, the nominee for the United States Ambassador to Georgia, on Thursday said the country had taken “important steps to support Ukraine” amid the ongoing Russian aggression.
Arun Venkataraman, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets and Director General of the United States Foreign Commercial Service, on Monday said the Georgian Government was complying with and respecting international sanctions and export controls imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
A deal for defence cooperation between Georgia and Azerbaijani was signed on Monday between Juansher Burchuladze and Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, the defence ministers of the two states.
Issues of bilateral cooperation in security and defence of the Black Sea region were discussed between the Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze and Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, the Georgian Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday.
“Multilateral, close and continuous” cooperation in defence between Georgia and the United States was discussed on Wednesday in a farewell meeting between the Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze and the outgoing United States Ambassador Kelly Degnan.
The Georgian Defence Ministry on Wednesday dismissed comments by a Georgian journalist on an alleged refusal by the country’s Government to open a United States military base in Georgia during the visit of the US Defence Secretary two years ago as “false”.
The United States Embassy in Georgia on Wednesday said the United States had not offered to establish a US military base in Georgia.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said “fake news” on media “harmed the reputation” of both Georgia and the United States, after the US Embassy rejected comments by a local reporter on an alleged rejection by the Georgian Government of plans for a launch of a US military base in the country in 2021.