Gov’t’s new state programme: Euro-Atlantic integration remains key foreign policy objective
The programme includes continued implementation of the Georgia Defence and Deterrence Enhancement Initiative with the US, which focuses on enhancing deterrence, territorial defence, resistance, and resilience capabilities, fostering compatibility with NATO, instituting reforms, and expediting the modernisation of the Georgian Defence Forces. Photo via Georgian Embassy to the US
Tweet 
Share
The Georgian Government’s new state programme For Building the European State, published by the Parliament on Friday, says the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration and further success in this regard, remain a key foreign policy objective under the Constitution of Georgia.
Georgia, as an aspirant country, is committed to leveraging essential tools for integration into the Alliance, such as the updated NATO-Georgia Essential Package, the annual national programme, and the NATO-Georgia Commission, the document notes, stressing the continuous efforts will be made to enhance NATO's representation in Georgia through various means, including exercises and training initiatives.
Practical and political cooperation with NATO within the framework of the Individually Tailored Partnership Programme will also continue. Georgia actively cooperates with NATO on the Black Sea region security matters and remains a reliable partner of the Alliance’s eastern flank”, the state programme reads.
The document also refers to intensifying work to further deepen the strategic partnership with the United States, the main strategic partner of Georgia, including in all the main directions of the US-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership - defence and security, European and Euro-Atlantic integration, peaceful conflict resolution, trade and economic ties, as well as democratic institution building.
Georgia is committed to the implementation of initiatives outlined in the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package, which aim to enhance the country’s defence and security capabilities, resilience, and compatibility with NATO standards”, the new programme notes, adding special emphasis will be given to reinforcing partnership within the European Peace Facility, intensifying cooperation with the European Defence Agency and the Cyber Security Agency.
It is also said in the document that the US financial support, allocated to the Georgian Defence Ministry for the modernisation of equipment in the Defence Forces and development of the field, will amount to more than $50 million by 2024.
In 2024, Georgia is set to host the US European Command's multinational exercise Trojan Footprint and the US-Georgia drills Noble Partner, while Georgian military forces will also participate in the US-organised exercises abroad.
The programme includes continued implementation of the Georgia Defence and Deterrence Enhancement Initiative with the US, which focuses on enhancing deterrence, territorial defence, resistance, and resilience capabilities, fostering compatibility with NATO, instituting reforms, and expediting the modernisation of the Georgian Defence Forces.
Georgia seeks to deepen cooperation with NATO and EU members, Black Sea region countries, and other partners, the document stresses, noting this approach aims at stability, security, and defence capabilities in the region.
Javier Colomina, NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, on Sunday lauded the alliance’s “very good relations” with Georgia and stressed the bloc was motivated to make the existing partnership with Tbilisi “as strong as possible”.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday hailed his country as one of NATO’s “most dependable” and “capable” partners in a Tbilisi meeting with Javier Colomina, the Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia of the bloc’s Secretary General.
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.
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”.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Committee on Human Rights, on Saturday hailed the Government’s new state programme titled For Building the European State as “an ambitious, realistic and convincing” programme.
Irakli Chikovani, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party and the candidate for the position of the Defence Minister, on Monday said European integration was “creating the best conditions for the peaceful development and reunification” of the country.
Pawel Herczynski, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, on Monday said the door of the European Union had “never been so wide open”, adding it was up to each aspiring member country to “make the most of this opportunity to move forward”.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate for the position of the Prime Minister of Georgia, on Wednesday said economic development of the country would be given “special importance” while presenting the Government programme for the next 10 months to the Parliament.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate for the position of the Prime Minister of Georgia, on Wednesday said the Government’s “main priority” was the country’s full integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures, as outlined in the Georgian constitution.
Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Chikovani on Friday said leaders of NATO viewed Georgia as the “closest partner” among non-member countries, as a credit for the state’s “achievements” of the past 10 years.
Irakli Kobakhidze, Georgia’s newly confirmed Prime Minister, on Friday said his upcoming visit to Brussels would concern “active consultations on all topics” related to bringing the country “even closer” to the European Union.