NATO Military Committee meets with close Partner Georgia
On 22nd May 2023, the NATO Military Committee held a meeting with its close Partner Georgia. The discussion focused on the security situation in Georgia and its surrounding region, Georgia’s ongoing contributions to NATO-led missions, operations and activities as well as the Enhanced Substantial NATO-Georgia Package.
Opening the session, the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Bauer welcomed the Georgian delegation, led by Deputy Chief of Defence, Brigadier General Irakli Tchitchinadze. The meeting started with an update on Georgia’s participation in the NATO-led operations and missions, namely Operation Sea Guardian and the NATO Mission Iraq, as well as its contributions to the NATO Response Force (NRF) and the Operational Capabilities Concept Evaluation and Feedback Programme.
Underscoring Georgia’s continued commitment to NATO operations and missions, Admiral Bauer noted that through its continued contributions to NATO operations and missions, Georgia plays an integral part in the provision of Euro-Atlantic security. “We are grateful to have the outstanding support of the Georgian Armed Forces. By working alongside Allied troops, we have managed to become more interoperable than ever before”, he added.
The meeting continued with a briefing from Head of the Georgian Military Intelligence Department, Colonel Giorgi Sherazadishvili, about the latest security-related developments and the noticeable increase in Russia’s influence in the region. In a subsequent brief, the Director of the Georgian Coast Guard Department, Captain Ramaz Papidze provided information regarding Russia’s naval activity in the Black Sea region. In response, Admiral Bauer highlighted the strength of NATO’s presence in the region, stating that “the Alliance’s presence in the Black Sea area is steadfast. We will continue to work with Georgia, in the Black Sea Security, to ensure the region remains resilient and resistant to external influences and forces”.
The final briefing, provided by Colonel David Usenashvili, Acting Head of J5 Strategic Planning Department, focused on the Enhanced Substantial NATO-Georgia Package, which aims to strengthen Georgia's ability to defend itself and advance its preparations for NATO membership. The Chair of the NATO Military Committee concluded the meeting by stressing that “NATO’s increased support to Georgia is a clear signal that NATO will not back out from its obligations to support for our partners; we must and will step up to fulfil our commitments and meet our Partners’ expectations.”
Georgia has been one of the Alliance’s closest partners; ever since NATO established relations with the country in 1992, cooperation has only widened in every field, from assisting local authorities in their fight against perilous forest fires to implementing tailored support measures in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.