In an exclusive interview with „Europetime“, Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, the former commander of US ground forces, summed up the results of the NATO Ministerial and said he hoped Georgia's integration into NATO would be accelerated, and under the Biden administration, the US would increase its rotational forces and infrastructure in Georgia. He also noted that he couldn’t imagine a strong NATO without Turkish participation, leadership and contribution.
_General Hodges, The NATO Ministerial has now ended and as it’s become known that a new version of the substantial package has been approved for Georgia. That is, support is growing. How would you evaluate this decision? It was also said that the Allies will try to find more practical ways to help. Do you think this practical way would be Georgia’s immediate integration into NATO as you have already stated previously?
I do hope that Georgia`s opportunity to join Nato will be Accelerated. This is important as it is a key part of the competition in the greater black sea region. When we show we care about a region we also need to find a way to gain the initiative in the black sea region. Offering map to Georgia and Ukraine will help do that. The Kremlin does not need provocation... It does what it wants and then tries to blame others... A continuous false narrative. Actually, it is better to be strong, to take the initiative... The Kremlin only respects strenghth and despises weakness.
_In an interview with „Europetime“, you have repeatedly stated that it is time for the West to become more active in relation to Georgia and the region in general. The events of Karabakh have made the need for this even more obvious. In your opinion, if the issue of granting a Map to Georgia is really on the agenda, will it be a kind of „awakening“ for the West?
What Would be more of an awakening for the west, would be for Georgia to take the necessary steps to make itself much more attractive to international private investment... Getting large business investment from Germany, Netherlands, France, UK and the US will cause those nations to pay much closer attention to Georgia`s security...And of course that`s the last thing the Kremlin wants to see.
_You stated that Turkey should be the main strategic partner for US in the region. Given the balance of power in the region after Karabakh Peace Deal and the fact that Turkey is a NATO member, do you think it is time for Western cooperation with Turkey to become even more intensive?
Yes of course... I don`t even want to imagine NATO without strong turkish participation, leadership and contributions... We have to rebuild trust between our nations as well as between Turkey and Europe.
_In your opinion, will the US-Georgia bilateral relations move to a more important stage under the Biden administration, in particular, will the US increase its rotational forces and infrastructure in Georgia?
I hope so. I do believe that the Biden administration wil be firm in dealing with the Kremlin and that it will see the black region as strategically important... I`m anxious to see who will be our new secretary of defence and who will fill the second and third tier positions within dept of state and dept of defence... Those will be important signals about which direction the Biden administration will take.
_In your opinion, will the issue of the Anaklia Project be raised, especially since the foreign ministers of NATO member states are discussing the issue of Black Sea security?
This is such an important project...And I`m disappointed that the govt of Georgia has thus far prevented or at least is has not helped with this development... If the govt of Georgia really wanted this port then it would be under construction. I think that there is too much Kremlin influence here.
_To sum up Pompeo's visit, do you think this visit contained more of a message that America is here and has not gone from the region?
We have great diplomats who work in our embassy in Tbilisi... And they need the support of the secretary of state...So visits are important. But we have to do this on a consistent basis.
_The new configuration and balance of power make the fate of the important transit corridor in Karabakh that connects Europe with Eurasia unclear. What role can Turkey play here as a NATO member?
I hope that Turkey will Find a way to ensure that these Russian `piece keepers` in N-K are not there for long. I suppose that`s a possibility. I`d like to see Turkey open its border with Armenia as a sign of good will, to provide economic relief, and to help demonstrate its role in protecting Armenian citizens. Armenia Should Seriously reconsider its reliance on the kremlin for its security... It was clear from the beginning that the Kremlin was going to allow Armenian forces to be crushed in N-K... and they were not prepared militarily. Yes Armenia still allows Russian troops to be based there. Armenia needs a much more reliable friend. Perhaps the USA and Turkey and Georgia can help there.
