US Defense Secretary to PM Garibashvili: ‘Thank you for supporting the US-Georgia strategic partnership’
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 on October 18 in Tbilisi. Photo: Press office of the Georgian government.
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“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.
In an official letter to Garibashvili, Lloyd noted the importance of the high-level US-Georgia strategic partnership and expressed readiness to move to a new phase of bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Georgia Defense and Deterrence Enhancement (GDDE) Initiative.
My visit to your country demonstrates the US Government’s unwavering support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. My visit was also aimed at highlighting the strategic partnership between our countries, as it helped us protect and advance our common interests in the region and around the world”, reads the letter.
Lloyd also mentioned that the US and Georgia are preparing for a new phase of bilateral cooperation within the Georgia Defense and Deterrence Enhancement (GDDE) Initiative and expressed hope that Georgia will do its best to support the Georgian Defense Ministry’s modernization and institutional reform.
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 on October 18 in Tbilisi.
Lloyd said 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’.
Lloyd also said the new agreement points at the US’ ‘long-term policy to support Georgia’s defense and the country’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations.’
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.
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 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.’