Defence minister calls opponents claims - Georgia in international isolation - “absurd”

Georgian defence minister Juansher Burchuladze on Friday called the claims of the opposition, as though Georgia has been in international isolation, “absurd” and highlighted the “high-level” visits of the Georgian side with its partner countries, in an interview with Imedi TV channel.

Discussing the cooperation with international partners, Burchuladze said that the Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili had co-chaired a “high-level” thematic discussion on the peaceful and secure future of the European Union within the framework of the first session of the inaugural summit of the European Political Community in Prague. 

The minister also noted that in his meeting with Bonnie Jenkins, the US under secretary of state for arms control and international security, the US official had “confirmed” that Georgia’s policy has been “one of the strongest” in the region, and he emphasised he had attended four summits in Brussels, adding that Georgia has been a member of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, despite being able to “provide direct military aid to Ukraine”.

He also discussed the existing challenges in the region and noted that they have not changed, just the “intensity” of them has increased in connection with the Russian-Ukraine war.

There is no alternative to our policy, and as a result of  it, not only today's Georgia was not affected by these problems, but we have determined the future of the country in the 10-20 years perspective. [...] it is possible for the future of Georgia to be based only on its development", the minister said.

Burchuladze noted that based on the recommendations of Georgia’s international partners, the medium and long-term plans had been drawn up, involving a 10-year perspective, and added this year’s enhanced budget, increased by ₾80 million (about $29mln), would give the ministry opportunity to surpass the target plan.