US Defense Chief Says Georgia Must Strengthen Democracy To Move Closer To West
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published October 19, 2021 | 01:02 AM
The Georgian authorities must do their part to strengthen democracy in order to bring the country closer to the West, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Monday
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th October, 2021) The Georgian authorities must do their part to strengthen democracy in order to bring the country closer to the West, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Monday.
"(T)he Georgian government must do its part by leveraging US support to strengthen Georgia's democracy, to make the fundamental reforms necessary to bring Georgia even closer to the West," Austin said during a press briefing in Tbilisi.
Austin also announced that the Georgia Defense Deterrence Enhancement Initiative between Washington and Tbilisi has been signed to advance security cooperation between the two countries. The Defense Secretary said the new initiative would be the next step in furthering Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration.
With respect to Russia's offer of a new "3+3" discussion platform in the Caucasus, Austin dismissed the idea noting that Moscow should honor ceasefire commitments before promoting any new platforms.
Austin arrived in the Georgian capital earlier on Monday and is scheduled to meet with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. The US Defense Secretary is also scheduled to visit a Georgian army base and attend joint exercises of US and Georgian military personnel.
On Friday, the Defense Department announced that Austin would travel to Europe to visit Georgia, Ukraine and Romania, as well as participate in the meeting of NATO defense ministers in Belgium.
During his meetings with his European counterparts, Austin is expected to discuss cooperation in the Black Sea region, among other regional and global security issues. He is also expected to comment on Georgia's and Ukraine's prospects for NATO membership.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
Two Kyiv hospitals evacuating over feared Russian strikes
World must act on neurotech revolution, say experts
Charles & Catherine's cancer diagnoses
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: palace
US defense chief announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
Heavy rains cause damage to Spezand-Taftan railway track
Woman stabbed in Israel, attacker killed: police
More Stories From World
-
NFL will allow players to wear Guardian Cap helmets in games
57 minutes ago -
Football: German Bundesliga table
57 minutes ago -
Football: Italian Serie A result
57 minutes ago -
Football: German Bundesliga results
57 minutes ago -
US troops to leave Chad in second African state withdrawal
57 minutes ago -
Plastics pollution may be solved without production cap: Canada minister
1 hour ago
-
Biden stalls on menthol cigarette ban fearing Black vote backlash
1 hour ago -
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
1 hour ago -
6,000 French police to welcome Olympic torch amid bonus boost
2 hours ago -
Taiwan hit by several quakes, strongest reaching 6.1-magnitude
2 hours ago -
'Ballistic' Bairstow stars as Punjab pull off record T20 chase
2 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 2nd update
2 hours ago