US-Georgia “continue to do more across broad range of cooperative military activities” in 2023 - US Embassy
The Embassy emphasised that the US remained committed to enhancing its strategic partnership with Georgia and would continue “working together to make both Georgia and the US safer and more secure”. Photo via US Embassy in Tbilisi
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The United States Embassy in Georgia on Wednesday issued a statement on military cooperation between the two states in 2023 and stressed US-Georgia continued “to do more across a broad range of cooperative military activities”.
The Embassy emphasised that the US remained committed to enhancing its strategic partnership with Georgia and would continue “working together to make both Georgia and the US safer and more secure”.
In 2023 both counties are “jointly focused” on maximising beneficial training opportunities to enhance Georgia’s critical capabilities, the Embassy noted, adding the states had “mutually decided” to focus resources on in-country, multinational exercises – Agile Spirit and Noble Partner – and build on their previous success to “most effectively strengthen” Georgia’s interoperability and its capacity for resilience and defence.
The statement followed claims by Teona Akubardia, an MP from the opposition Lelo party, who on Tuesday said the Georgian Defence Forces’ non-involvement in NATO exercises was a “gift to the Kremlin and damaging to our defence capabilities”.
The Georgian Defence Ministry also responded to Akubardia’s claims yesterday, calling it “another provocation” towards the Ministry and explained that based on the goals and objectives of the Defence Forces, through active communication with the main strategic partner, the US, they had decided to direct more efforts and resources at international and local exercises.
The Ministry also said it had been “constantly” participating in, as well as hosting, international drills to increase the combat capabilities of the Defence Forces.
The Georgian Defence Ministry on Tuesday issued a statement regarding the question of participation of the country’s Defence Forces in the multinational exercise Defender 2023 and said the “biassed” information spread by some media outlets and individuals was “another provocation” towards the Ministry.
Irakli Beraia, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Defence and Security Committee, on Tuesday called “anti-state, misinforming and shameful” the claim by Teona Akubardia, an MP from the opposition Lelo party, who earlier during the day said the Georgian Defence Forces’ non-involvement in NATO exercises was a “gift to the Kremlin and damaging to our defence capabilities”.
Julianne Smith, the United States Ambassador to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, hailed Georgia’s “excellent and very close” relationship with the alliance and highlighted the country as NATO’s one of the “closest partners”, in an interview with Imedi TV on Friday.
Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, on Tuesday described Georgia as “one of closest partners” of the alliance and pledged “continued political and practical support” for the country.
James Appathurai, the NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, on Wednesday said he did not have an “exact answer” when Georgia would become a NATO member country, but noted it was “clear” that “sooner or later” it would happen, highlighting the country as “one of the closest partners” for the alliance.
The United States Department of State’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation on Friday “applauded” the “diligent” work of Georgia to support international financial sanctions and export controls with the support of the US Embassy in the country.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Friday rejected the criticism by the domestic opposition about the absence of the Georgian Defence Forces from an ongoing NATO exercise by highlighting the “record number” of six international manoeuvres involving the GDF in 2022 and about 20 set to feature troops from the country this year.
Georgia and its people, as a “proud and freedom-loving nation”, share the same values and principles of freedom and democracy that “form the foundation of the enduring friendship” with the United States, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Thursday at the official reception held at the US Embassy in Tbilisi on the occasion of the Declaration of Independence of the USA.
Julianne Smith, the United States Ambassador to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, on Friday said Georgia was “already an incredibly close partner” of the Alliance, noting the 2008 Bucharest Summit declared that “not only” Ukraine, but also Georgia would become a member of NATO.
The 11th Agile Spirit multinational exercise in Georgia launched on Wednesday with airborne demonstration training at Vaziani military base.
The 11th edition of Agile Spirit 2023 multinational defence drills in Georgia have officially concluded, the Ministry of Defence of Georgia said on Friday.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Tuesday highlighted the “close and continuous” cooperation with international partners, especially with the main strategic partner - the United States, adding the partnership with the US “is increasing and strengthening each year”.