NATO Sec Gen: strengthening partnership with Georgia on Vilnius Summit agenda

The NATO official called on Russia to “withdraw its forces it has in Georgia  – without any consent from the Georgian government – and to end its recognition and militarisation, of course, and South Ossetia”. Photo via NATO

Agenda.ge, 08 Jul 2023 - 15:40, Tbilisi,Georgia

Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, on Friday said the importance of strengthening the partnership with Georgia would be addressed at the upcoming Summit in Vilnius, with Ukraine being “at the top of the agenda” as “there is a full-fledged war taking place” in the country.

In a pre-summit press conference, Stoltenberg noted the Alliance had to strengthen its partnership with “partners that are vulnerable for Russian interference and under pressure” and stressed the upcoming Summit would reaffirm NATO’s support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.

Allies will also, I expect, reaffirm Georgia’s right to decide its own future and foreign policy, free from outside intervention”, he added.

The NATO official called on Russia to “withdraw its forces it has in Georgia  – without any consent from the Georgian government – and to end its recognition and militarisation, of course, and South Ossetia”. 

He highlighted the important role of Georgia in strengthening the partnership with NATO and the commitment to Euro-Atlantic security.