U.S. To Provide $33 Million In Security Assistance For Georgia

The Biden Administration on Thursday announced a $33 million tranche of security funding for Georgia, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

"We've approved Georgia for the risk-assessed payment schedule, so Georgia will be able to request and acquire vital military capabilities more easily," Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said at the Pentagon as he welcomed his Georgian colleague Minister Juansher Burchuladze who is visiting Washington for meetings with top U.S. officials.

Georgia is part of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a US-assembled coalition of about 50 countries aimed at coordinating and enhancing security assistance to Ukraine as it defends itself against Vladimir Putin's invasion.

"Georgia's participation in the contact group helps us all strengthen Ukraine's ability to defend itself and to bolster the rules-based international border that keeps us all secure. And that's crucial as Ukraine continues to fight bravely against Russia's unprovoked and unjust invasion," Austin said.

He also expressed "deep appreciation" to Georgia for its "outsized effect on security and stability in the South Caucasus and around the world".

"Our security partnership continues to deepen," Austin said.

Burchuladze, in his turn, called Georgia "the U.S. trusted ally and key partner both regionally and globally."

"Unity has never been more important than today, when peace and stability and rules-based international order of the democratic world is challenged by Russia's unjustified, illegal and brutal occupation of the Georgian territories and Ukraine," he said.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.