US says it 'won't allow anyone' to slam closed NATO’s open door policy
The Russia-US Strategic Stability Dialogue took place yesterday in Geneva after which US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman (L) stated that the US ‘will not allow anyone to slam closed NATO's open door policy,’ while Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov (R) said that ‘Russia needs concrete guarantees that Ukraine and Georgia will never become NATO members.’ Photo: Wendy Sherman/Twitter.
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US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman stated yesterday following the Russia-US Strategic Stability Dialogue (SSD) that the US ‘will not allow anyone to slam closed NATO's open door policy,’ adding that the policy has ‘always been central to the NATO Alliance.’
We will not forego bilateral cooperation with sovereign states that wish to work with the US and we will not make decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine, about Europe without Europe, or about NATO without NATO,” said Sherman.
Sherman also underscored that during the SSD the US ‘made it clear’ that if Russia continues to invade Ukraine, ‘there will be significant costs and consequences well beyond what they faced in 2014.’
She also spoke of the conversations which she had with various state officials including Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani prior to the SSD, adding that ‘we are lashed up at every level with our allies and partners.’
The extraordinary session of the bilateral Strategic Stability Dialogue is now underway in Geneva. The U.S. will listen to Russia’s concerns and share our own, but we have been clear we will not discuss European security without our Allies and partners. pic.twitter.com/QkYlu1HdhU
— Wendy R. Sherman (@DeputySecState) January 10, 2022
Sherman reiterated America’s unwavering support for Georgia’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders during the phone conversation with Zalkaliani.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov after the SSD demanded ‘concrete guarantees’ that ‘Ukraine and Georgia will never become NATO members,’ noting that ‘this is a matter of Russia's national security.’
We don't trust the other side. We need reinforced concrete and legally significant guarantees, not promises, but guarantees,” said Ryabkov.
The Russian Foreign Ministry put forward two proposals on ‘security guarantees’ between Russia, the US and NATO on December 17, which include restrictions on troop, ship, and aircraft deployments for both NATO and Russia, as well limits to the deployment of intermediate and short-range missiles abroad while on December 10 Russia released a statement demanding NATO member states rescind the 2008 Bucharest Summit declaration supporting Georgia and Ukraine's goal of becoming members of the alliance.
The SSD took place yesterday in Geneva which will be followed by a NATO-Russia council meeting scheduled for January 12 in Brussels, and the OSCE Permanent Council meeting in Vienna on January 13.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said yesterday in an interview with CNN that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s objective of ‘re-exert[ing] a sphere of influence over countries that previously were part of the Soviet Union is unacceptable.'
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman has emphasised the US’ ‘commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and the freedom of sovereign nations to choose their own alliances’ during a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov on January 9 in Geneva, the US State Department spokesperson’s office reports.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has denounced Russia's military aggression against Ukraine as a 'threat' to European security following a NATO council held yesterday, noting that Russia invaded neighbouring Georgia and Ukraine and violated international arms control agreements over the last two decades.
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman discussed ways to enhance peace and security in Europe with Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani during a phone conversation yesterday, the US State Department spokesperson’s office reports.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani discussed the ongoing negotiations between Russia and NATO allies with Deputy Secretary-General of NATO Mircea Geoana during a phone call yesterday ahead of the NATO-Russia council meeting scheduled on January 12, the Foreign Ministry of Georgia (FMA) reports.
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan has said that the US remains 'unwavering' about Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Ambassador Degnan noted the US is willing to negotiate with Russia in order to prevent conflict but will not 'trade away' the sovereignty of any European countries, including that of Georgia.
Members of the US Senate NATO Observer Group have urged US President Joe Biden to convey support for the 'security and freedom' for the Eastern European allies to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the NATO-Russia Council meeting scheduled this week.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said that NATO allies have called on Russia to withdraw forces from Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova at a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council held earlier today.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has responded to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s statement calling on Russia to withdraw forces from Georgia, stating that Georgia can rely on its partners in these difficult geopolitical times ‘to continue supporting our sovereignty and territorial integrity.’
US Ambassador to OSCE Michael Carpenter stated today at the OSCE Permanent Council meeting in Vienna that ‘Russia’s unwanted military presence on the territory of Georgia and Moldova continues to contradict fundamental principles.’
Georgia has carried out ‘impressive reforms’ while enhancing its defence capabilities through the substantial NATO-Georgia package, Head of NATO Military Committee Admiral Rob Bauer stated yesterday following two-day meetings of the Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session (MCCS).
NATO will not reconsider its decisions regarding Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and Euro-Atlantic integration, Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said following his meeting with the alliance's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on Monday.
United States Ambassador to Georgia, Kelly Degnan, met Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party Irakli Kobakhidze earlier on Thursday to discuss new priorities for an upcoming legislative session.
Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 and thirteen years later “nearly 300,000 Georgians are still displaced from their homes,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has said that his recent meetings in NATO headquarters in Brussels were "very successful" and confirmed that NATO's open door policy will not be reconsidered.
Michael Carpenter, the ambassador of the United States to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, on Monday called ties between the US and Georgia a partnership “between democracies that share common values”.