Georgia “already incredibly close partner” of NATO - US Ambassador to Alliance

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.

Smith highlighted Georgia’s participation in NATO peacekeeping missions in her Youtube video, answering the questions ahead of the Vilnius Summit.

She reaffirmed that NATO “obviously continues to condemn what Russia did in 2008” during the August war with Georgia, noting Russia “still occupies 20 percent of Georgian territory”. “We stand shoulder to shoulder with our friends in Georgia as it relates to their territorial integrity and sovereignty”, Smith added.

The Ambassador expressed hope to continue working “closely” with Georgia on its “unique partnership” with the Alliance.