NATO, Georgia Discuss Prospects Of Increasing Naval Cooperation In Black Sea - Stoltenberg

Muhammad Irfan Published March 25, 2019 | 02:13 PM

NATO and Georgia are discussing how the alliance and Tbilisi can further boost cooperation, notably between their naval forces, amid concerns regarding Russia's alleged military buildup in the Black Sea, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday

BRUSSELS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th March, 2019) NATO and Georgia are discussing how the alliance and Tbilisi can further boost cooperation, notably between their naval forces, amid concerns regarding Russia's alleged military buildup in the Black Sea, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday.

On March 24, the NATO chief started his two-day visit to Georgia on the occasion of the NATO-Georgia Exercise 2019, which kicked off in Georgia on March 18. On Monday, Stoltenberg held a meeting with the country's prime minister, Mamuka Bakhtadze.

"We also share your concerns about Russia's military build-up in the Black Sea region. That is why we are strengthening the cooperation between Georgian and NATO naval forces ... And during our meeting today we discussed how we can increase our cooperation, not least between our maritime forces," Stoltenberg said at the joint press conference with Bakhtadze, as quoted by the alliance's press service.

Stoltenberg added that NATO forces were already providing training for Georgian Coast Guard boarding teams and cooperated with Georgian Joint Maritime Operations Center.

"NATO fully supports Georgia's territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. We call on Russia to end its recognition of the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and to withdraw its forces," the NATO chief added.

The NATO chief also confirmed that the alliance would continue to support Tbilisi's reforms aimed at paving the way for Georgia's membership in NATO.

Last week, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that NATO was the one responsible for the militarization of the Black Sea region. According to Moscow, in 2018, NATO warships increased its presence in the area from 80 to 120 days.