Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin arrived in Georgia on a working visit, where he will hold meetings with Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. About it informs press service of the defense department of the republic.
According to the Defense Ministry, during the talks, the parties will discuss issues of bilateral cooperation in the military sphere.
“It is planned to sign an agreement between the Georgian Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense, which is aimed at strengthening Georgia’s defense capability and its deterrent potential,” the ministry said. After the meetings, the Georgian and US defense ministers intend to make official statements at a press conference.
It is also noted that Lloyd Austin will visit one of the military bases and take part in joint exercises of the Georgian and American military.
On October 17, it was reported that US Defense Secretary Austin, during his visit to Georgia and Ukraine as part of a European tour, is going to discuss the terms of NATO membership. According to the Pentagon, Austin believes that the “door to NATO” is open for both Georgia and Ukraine.
He is going to encourage countries to make the necessary changes so that they can apply for membership in the alliance. In addition, the Pentagon has promised to protect Georgia and Ukraine from Russia.
In June, NATO issued a final statement from the summit, which said that Ukraine and Georgia will be able to join the alliance in the future. Thus, the statement confirms the decision taken at the 2008 Bucharest summit.