Georgia-US defence cooperation “upgraded in all formats” - Minister
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Tuesday spoke about his office’s plans, cooperation with the US. Photo: Defence Ministry press office
Tweet 
Share
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Wednesday told Rustavi 2 channel his country’s cooperation with the United States had been “upgraded in all formats”.
In his interview for the channel, the Minister pointed to his latest visit to Washington earlier last month and his engagement in the US-established Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Brussels, saying the meetings “once again demonstrated the high-level partnership” between the two states.
Emphasising the Pentagon’s decision during his visit to allocate additional $33 million in security aid for Georgia, Burchuladze said he had also discussed his office’s long-term needs with US officials and potential support from the country.
In other topics on Georgia’s defence sector, the Minister praised conditions provided for the country's servicememembers as “better than in most European states”, and noted their wages had been increased by 40 percent since 2020 thanks to an initiative by Prime Minister Irakli’s Garibashvili.
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in January was hosted for a demonstration of drones carried out by the Georgian-Polish joint defence enterprise. Photo: Government press office.
He also said the Georgian Defence Forces enjoyed “better food, living conditions, equipment and infrastructure than many in NATO member states”.
Burchuladze also told the interview in contrast to the Government's efforts to further improve social conditions for servicemembers, a part of domestic political forces was engaged in “unfounded negative PR campaign” by accusing his office of misspending of funds, a claim he rejected by saying “absolutely all financial agreements” involving the Ministry except classified information were being made public by the body through its website.
In comments on the recently launched domestic drone production facility in a joint Polish-Georgian effort, Burchuladze said production and testing of “several drones” was expected to take place next month.
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday was hosted for a demonstration of drones carried out by a recently launched Georgian-Polish defence enterprise.
Georgian defence minister Juansher Burchuladze on Friday said the construction of a plant designated to launch domestic production of drones was on its “final stage”.
Georgian defence minister Juansher Burchuladze on Wednesday praised conditions provided for the country's servicememembers as “better than in most of European states” and announced launch of new projects for domestic defence production and introduction of a defence code to promote armed forces among the youth.
Georgian minister of defence Juansher Burchuladze on Monday said the production of unmanned reconnaissance and combat aircraft in Georgia would begin by the end of this year.
The importance of the existing strategic partnership between Georgia and the United States and strengthening their cooperation in “various fields” were discussed on Thursday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Louis Bono, the US Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Sunday congratulated the country’s armed forces on Defence Forces Day and said they were guarantors of Georgia’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, highlighting the Government's duty to appreciate their merits and honourable service.
The United States European Command on Sunday congratulated Georgia on Defence Forces Day.
Today Georgia marks the 32nd anniversary of the creation of its armed forces.
Governor of the United States State of Georgia Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp will on Tuesday lead a delegation of state officials on an international mission beginning in Georgia’s capital city of Tbilisi and ending in Paris, the US Embassy in Tbilisi said.
Cooperation plans were discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between Brigadier General Roman Jokhadze, the Commander of the Georgian National Guard, and Major General Thomas Carden, the Adjutant General of the United States Department of Defence for the State of Georgia.
The “strategic partnership” and the dynamics of fruitful cooperation between the Georgian and United States governments were discussed on Friday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Brian Kemp, the Governor of the US State of Georgia.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Saturday hosted Brian Kemp, the United States Governor of the State of Georgia, and his delegation at an official dinner to mark the latter's first official visit to the country.
Bilateral partnership agenda was discussed on Monday in a meeting between the Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Derek Mitchell, the President of the National Democratic Institute, an American non-governmental organisation.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Monday said the Government was aiming to promote armed service and “raise the youth with patriotic spirit”.