US Secretary of Defense Austin completes ‘great visit’ to Georgia
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (R) visited Georgia yesterday on his first official visit. Photo: Georgian Defense Ministry press office.
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US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin tweeted earlier today that he has ‘wrapped up his great visit’ to Georgia.
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.
Wrapping up a great visit to Tbilisi. Thank you to PM @GharibashviliGe and Defense Minister Burchuladze for meeting with me yesterday to discuss shared security concerns and reaffirm the strength of the U.S.-Georgia strategic partnership. https://t.co/3lq67pygvH
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) October 19, 2021
The US Department of Defence said that Austin also reaffirmed the department’s commitment to maintaining close bilateral security cooperation and helping Georgia further develop its defense capacity and advance its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
Secretary Austin expressed gratitude for Georgia’s outsized contributions to the US and NATO efforts to bring security and stability to Afghanistan,” said the US Department of Defense.
Burchuladze and Austin signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday on the new Georgia Defense and Deterrence Enhancement Initiative, which will be the continuation of Georgia’s Defence Readiness Programme which began back in 2018.
During my final stop in Georgia today, I had the pleasure of meeting with some of our troops stationed in country. It’s never easy to be stationed away from home, but I wanted to make sure they knew how thankful I am for their service and their sacrifice. pic.twitter.com/AlrKvFUBKO
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) October 18, 2021
This initiative will serve as the focal point of US-Georgia security cooperation upon the conclusion of the Georgia Defense Readiness Program at the end of this year. More details can be found on this fact sheet,” the US Department of Defence said.
While in Georgia Austin also met with US Special Operations Forces who are deployed to Georgia to provide training to Georgian personnel in support of bilateral defense capacity-building efforts.
He observed a medical training event they organised and subsequently took the opportunity to speak with US and Georgian participants and thank them for their service.
Visit of ???????? @SecDef to ???????? is a strong demonstration of????????'s firm support for????????, our robust strategic p'ship& strengthening ????????'s defense capabilities. Had an excellent discussion on our future coop. & regional security. Focused on????????'s important role in peacekeeping across t/region. pic.twitter.com/JjVyaexcPV
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) October 18, 2021
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said that the visit was ‘a very strong message in support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.’
He stated that Georgia is the US’ ‘loyal ally’ in the region, and called the GDDE initiative ‘crucial.’
The Georgian Foreign Ministry stated that Austin’s visit reaffirmed the US ‘strong and firm support to Georgia.’