Georgian Foreign Ministry welcomes NATO Summit approval of “tailored support” for country

The Georgian Foreign Ministry on Thursday welcomed the approval of a set of “tailored support” measures for the country by the NATO Summit, with the support involving “concrete steps” to further enhance the country's defence capabilities and achieve NATO’s more effective engagement in this process.

The state body said the Summit’s decisions, in both “practical and political dimensions”, were of “paramount importance” to Georgia, adding the Government welcomed the bloc’s decisions to further strengthen the security of its member states  and ensure Black Sea regional security.  

“The decisions made regarding Georgia during the Summit will contribute to improving Georgia’s security and defence capabilities and will bring the country closer to its ultimate goal - NATO Membership”, the Ministry’s statement said.

The new instrument, along with the existing Substantial NATO-Georgia Package, will create a “greater scope “for bringing Georgia’s defence and security sector closer to NATO standards and strengthen the country’s defence capabilities, the foreign office noted.  

“Georgia welcomes the adoption of a new strategic concept by the NATO Summit in Madrid. The new concept duly reflects the recent geopolitical shifts and the Alliance’s long-term response to the emerging threats. It needs to be highlighted that the new strategic concept gives due consideration to the topical importance of the Open Door Policy and to Georgia’s membership perspective, in line with the 2008 Bucharest Summit Decision, as well as  to the fundamental principle that each sovereign country has the right to choose its own security arrangements, without external interference in any form”, the Ministry said.

The Foreign Ministry also noted “paramount importance” needed to be attached to NATO’s “unequivocal support” for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as “confirmed repeatedly” in several documents adopted by the Summit. 

The Ministry welcomed the Summit’s decision regarding the enlargement of the alliance and congratulated Finland and Sweden on being invited to join the bloc, in addition to welcoming NATO’s decision to continue to support Ukraine.