US European Command chief, Georgian Defence Minister discuss cooperation in Brussels

General Christopher Cavoli, the Commander of the United States European Command, hosted Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze at his residence in Brussels to discuss cooperation between the two states, the Georgian Ministry said on Thursday. 

The body noted the meeting had come following Tuesday's session of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at the NATO headquarters, where Burchuladze joined more than 50 military officials from NATO member and allied states to discuss assistance to Ukraine amid its ongoing defence from the Russian invasion.

Along with Georgia’s existing defence and security cooperation with the US and NATO, the officials discussed “priority topics” as part of the alliance’s tailored support measures for Georgia, adopted during the last year’s Madrid Summit.

The Substantial NATO-Georgia Package - a set of initiatives endorsed at the 2014 Summit of the bloc and aimed at strengthening Georgia’s defence capabilities - was also reviewed.

Burchuladze arrived in Brussels from the US, where last Thursday the country’s Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin made an announcement of an additional $33 million in security aid for Georgia. 

Following his meeting with the Georgian official at the Pentagon, Austin also said his office had approved Georgia for the risk-assessed payment schedule, leading to the country being able to request and acquire “vital military capabilities more easily”.