A NATO official told Europetime that Mr. Appathurai's recent visit to Georgia was part of regular consultations held by NATO officials with their Georgian counterparts. In addition, it reaffirms that the NATO-Georgian political and practical partnership rests on a very solid track and that NATO highly values Georgia’s long-standing contributions to euro-atlantic security.
`Mr. Appathurai’s recent visit to Georgia is part of regular consultations held by NATO officials with their Georgian counterparts. It provided an important platform to reaffirm that the NATO-Georgian political and practical partnership rests on a very solid track and the NATO highly values Georgia’s long-standing contributions to euro-atlantic security.
In light of Russia’s unprovoked and unlawful invasion of Ukraine, as NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg has recently said: "NATO Allies have decided to help strengthening the resilience of those partners at risk from Russian threats and interference, including Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina." For Georgia, we could increase our support by building on the substantial NATO-Georgia Package, including in areas like situational awareness, secure communications, and cyber`, - a NATO official told Europetime.
During his visit to Georgia, NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, James Appathurai, has met with Georgia’s Parliamentary Defense and Security Committee to discuss cyber and energy security. At a press briefing after the closed meeting, the NATO official said the Alliance has decided to do more for Georgia and other partners in Europe, as Russia’s war against Ukraine fundamentally changed the security map of the continent for the long term. The NATO official said the alliance has certain ideas for the country to bolster its security in that regard, as well as in the context of hybrid attacks and coordinated disinformation.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary General expects that by the time of the Madrid Summit in June NATO will have very concrete ideas in place to help Georgia.
The official added he also expects Allied Governments to reiterate at the Madrid Summit that NATO’s door remains open to Georgia. But the Allied states also wish to see continued reforms and a less polarized political environment here, seeing government and opposition work together, to see decisions take across the political divide.
- „Cyber-attacks have been part of Russia’s attack on Ukraine before military hostilities started and throughout military hostilities“, Appathurai noted, adding it has become crucial for Georgia and every NATO country to beef up their cybersecurity. As for energy security, NATO’s Appathurai stressed that Georgia’s role in supply to Europe has only become more important as European countries have cut off a delivery from Russia. In this context, he highlighted the importance of cooperating with Georgia to better secure its energy infrastructure against cyber or physical attacks.
A meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs took place at the NATO Headquarters on 6 and 7 April 2022.
“Allies have been doing a lot, and are determined to do more, now, and for the medium and longer term to help the brave Ukrainians defend their homes and their country, and push back the invading forces […] Allies agreed that we should also help other partners to strengthen their resilience.
And shore up their ability to defend themselves. Including Georgia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. For Georgia, we could increase our support through the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package. Including in areas like situational awareness, secure communications, and cyber,” stated NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the press conference following the meetings.
