American General hails progress in US-Georgia Defence and Deterrence Initiative
American Brigadier General Edward Vaughan of the United States European Command visited Georgia on Friday alongside a US military delegation. Photo: Defence Ministry press office
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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.
The Georgian Defence Ministry said Vaughan had met with Deputy Defence Minister Lela Chikovani, with representatives of the United States European Command, the Pentagon and the US Embassy also present.
The parties positively evaluated the progress of the initiative to strengthen defence and deterrence [capability] of Georgia and discussed steps for future cooperation”, the Ministry said, noting that Laura Cooper, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, had also participated in the meeting remotely.
Brigadier General Edward Vaughan of the United States European Command met with Deputy Georgian Defence Minister Lela Chikovani in Tbilisi. Photo: Defence Ministry press office.
Cooper also gave a positive assessment to the progress of the initiative at the meeting, the Ministry added.
US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze signed a memorandum of understanding on the Georgia Defence and Deterrence Enhancement Initiative in October 2021, during the US official’s first visit to Georgia.
GDDE is the continuation of Georgia’s Defence Readiness Programme, a platform used for providing US support for Georgia’s defence capabilities throughout more than three years.
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