International Gathering: Focus on Georgia and Armenia at Upcoming NATO Meeting
A NATO summit is scheduled for July 9 in Washington, with the primary objective of boosting Ukraine's self-defense capabilities against Russian aggression. However, a secondary aim for the Atlantic Alliance will be to strengthen ties with nations in the Caucasus and Central Asia, aiming to limit Russia's ability to wage war.
Over three days, NATO leaders plan to construct a comprehensive defense system to enhance Kyiv's fighting capabilities. Meanwhile, they'll pay attention to Russia's southern front, which has emerged as a significant trade route for the Kremlin since the war's start.
More than 40 organizations and non-member states, including Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and others who interact with NATO via the Partnership for Peace program, will partake in some summit sessions. Particular focus will be on Georgia, a country of concern for the Atlantic Alliance due to its recent political shifts straining relations with Western political and security institutions.
Atlantic Alliance officials hope to convey a strong message to the Georgian government, as stated by Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, James O'Brien. "We’re asking the government to reconsider its positions," O'Brien stated ahead of the summit.
Western discontent with Georgia stems from the passage of a Moscow-influenced "foreign agents" law, violent attacks on critics, awarding a major port contract to a Chinese consortium, and questionable moves toward democratic and rule-of-law reforms.
In response, the United States initiated a comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation and announced visa restrictions for those undermining democracy. As the government in Tbilisi drifts away from the West, public opinion remains solidly in favor of EU and NATO membership, with 73 percent of Georgians still supporting NATO membership, according to a 2023 poll by the National Democratic Institute.
The alliance last conducted a joint brigade-level exercise with Georgia in March 2022. The 2023 Vilnius summit introduced new cooperation initiatives on cybersecurity and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense. In October 2023, Tbilisi made its debut as an operational partner in NATO's maritime Operation Sea Guardian. This year, it participated in the Sea Breeze 24 exercises in Scotland together with the Ukrainian Navy.
In Washington, the Georgian delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, who praised the US as a "strategic partner" and expressed eagerness to strengthen cooperation. The summit will feature working sessions and bilateral meetings for the Georgian Foreign Ministry.
No specific format for interaction has been planned for the summit, according to Alexander Vinnikov, who heads NATO's liaison office in Georgia. The US message to Tbilisi remained firm, with O'Brien stating, "We’re trying to be as clear as we can that there is a way to step back from the path that they have chosen."
Another Caucasus state, Armenia, hopes to secure an Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO, an update of the 2005 Individual Partnership Action Plan. While Armenia, unlike Georgia, has sought to strengthen ties with Western institutions in recent months following its defeats in Nagorno-Karabakh and the deterioration of relations with Russia, Georgia's trajectory towards democratic and rule-of-law reforms raises significant concerns among NATO allies.
As the summit marks the 75th anniversary of the alliance's founding, nearly 75 percent of its member states are spending at or near 2 percent of GDP on defense, demonstrating continuing resolve to support Ukraine's war effort. Outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg remains optimistic, expressing confidence that the alliance will remain a stable and strong force in uncertain times.
- In light of the NATO summit, the Atlantic Alliance aims to express their concerns about Georgia's recent political shifts, specifically its passing of a Moscow-influenced "foreign agents" law, which has strained relations with Western political and security institutions.
- Amidst discussions about enhancing relationships with nations in the Caucasus and Central Asia, the news about Georgia's awarding a major port contract to a Chinese consortium and questionable moves toward democratic reforms have raised opinions about the nation's allegiance.
- As the NATO summit progresses, the general news about war-and-conflicts, such as Ukraine's struggle against Russian aggression, will likely be overshadowed by the alliance's focus on strengthening ties with countries like Georgia, aiming to limit Russia's ability to wage war.
