US and Georgia to expand military cooperation
Bilateral Defense Consultations (BDCs) are underway between Georgia and the United States. For this purpose, a high-ranking delegation of the US Department of Defense visited Georgia. Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze hosted Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russian, Ukrainian, and Eurasian Affairs Laura Cooper. The minister highlighted the successful close cooperation with the country's key strategic partner and thanked the American side for its unwavering political and practical support. Important issues of US-Georgia cooperation and the security environment were discussed at the meeting.
Bilateral defence consultations this year were co-chaired by First Deputy Secretary of Defence Lela Chikovani and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia Laura Cooper. The sides discussed the reforms which were implemented by the Georgian army and future plans aiming to strengthen Georgia's defence capabilities. It was noted that the new stage of the strategic partnership and the basis for the next ten years of dynamic cooperation will be the new US-Georgia Defense and Detention Initiative, which will further strengthen the country's resilience within the framework of total defence.
Following the consultations, the Co-Chairs signed the bilateral Concept of the US-Georgia Defense and Restraint Initiative. This framework document aims to set out the directions for a new bilateral security cooperation initiative for the coming years. The leaders reaffirmed the importance of the US-Georgia Strategic Partnership in upholding common values and strengthening common security interests.
High-level bilateral defence consultations between Georgia and the United States are held annually. The format of the consultations is to exchange information, share experiences, identify, and review areas of cooperation in the field of defence and security.
This follows the May 20 meeting when the U.S. Defense Department official met Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze. The two sides discussed bilateral cooperation as well as the security environment in the region.