In 2008, Russia invaded Georgia, after NATO allies at the Bucharest Summit made clear that Georgia and Ukraine should be offered membership in the future. Although Georgia remains outside of the alliance, partially due to worries of some NATO countries about provoking Russia again, Georgia still looks poised to be invited into NATO. At the NATO heads of state summit in Warsaw this July, Montenegro – a country soon to be made the newest NATO member – took part, signaling to prospective member countries that NATO expansion is on the agenda. The Cipher Brief spoke with Georgia’s permanent representative to NATO, Ambassador Alexander Maisuradze, who was at the summit about progress made there.
The Cipher Brief: What are the highlights of the NATO Summit that took place in Warsaw on July 8 and 9? And was the question of NATO expansion high on the agenda?
Alexander Maisuradze: This Summit took place during a very important moment for international security. The Euro-Atlantic community faces a wide range of challenges that originate from the east and south of Europe. Apart from conventional threats, like Russia’s aggressive and provocative actions including in the Black Sea region, we are all confronted by global terrorism and hybrid threats. In this complex security environment, the Allies in Warsaw were primarily focused on strengthening deterrence and collective defense to make sure that NATO is better prepared to protect the security of its member nations. A number of important decisions was taken in this regard, including boosting the Alliance’s military presence in Poland and Baltic States and developing a tailored forward presence in the southeast. The Allies declared cyberspace as a new operational domain – like air, land, and sea – and pledged to strengthen cyber defense as a matter of priority.
One of the key topics of the Summit was projecting stability beyond NATO’s borders. The Allies will enhance cooperation with many partners through building defense capabilities and resilience. In this regard, endorsing the Comprehensive Assistance Package with Ukraine was one of the key Allied decisions.
At the same time, NATO’s open door policy was strongly emphasized in Warsaw. Montenegro’s participation in the Summit and coming admission into NATO is a clear demonstration that the open door policy is valid and delivers concrete results. In the final Communique, the Allies reaffirmed commitment to the open door policy and underlined that enlargement is a merit-based process, and nations have the right to make independent and sovereign choices on foreign and security policy, free from external pressure and coercion. All of these messages are very positive and encouraging for the Georgian public, which firmly supports our NATO membership course.
TCB: The first meeting of the NATO-Georgia Commission at a NATO summit took place during the Warsaw Summit. What was discussed and what are the results?
AM: It was indeed the first ever meeting of the NATO-Georgia Commission at a NATO Summit. The commission adopted a Joint Statement expressing strong support of Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as defining new ways of practical cooperation to increase Georgia’s defense capabilities, interoperability, and resilience, and to help Georgia, an aspirant country, progress in its preparations towards membership.
The Allies reiterated their commitment to the 2008 Bucharest Summit decision that Georgia will become a member of NATO, underlined the significant progress achieved by Georgia on the way towards NATO membership, and stressed once again that Georgia possesses all the practical tools to prepare for membership. Allies commended the steady progress achieved by Georgia towards stronger democracy, economic development, and modernization of the Armed Forces. The new practical initiatives are focused on increased support for Georgia’s training and education, strategic communication, development of Georgia’s air defense and air surveillance, and security in the black sea region.
The Allies pledged their support to fully implement the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package. Allies expressed high appreciation for Georgia’s significant contribution to NATO-led operations and underlined that Georgia’s efforts demonstrate commitment and capability to contribute to Euro-Atlantic security.
The Allies reiterated full support to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, called on Russia to reverse its recognition of independence of the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions of Georgia and to withdraw its forces from Georgia, and welcomed Georgia’s commitment not to use force while calling on Russia to reciprocate.
As a demonstration of political support, the North Atlantic Council decided to visit Georgia this autumn. Georgia is committed to make full use of all the tools of political dialogue and practical cooperation with NATO to prepare the ground for Georgia’s NATO membership. We hope that the strong support continuously demonstrated by the Alliance will soon be translated into the political decision by the Allies to invite Georgia into NATO.
TCB: What is your opinion on the Alliance’s plan of deterrence and dialogue with Russia? What does that plan entail and do you think it is the right course of action?
AM: NATO is going through the complex process of adapting its deterrence and defense posture to existing and emerging threats. Today, Russia openly challenges the international order and fundamental principles of the global security architecture. Russia does not shy away from using military force against neighboring countries and undermining their sovereignty and territorial integrity. Therefore, the need to take a range of additional steps for reinforcement of collective defense by NATO is very much rooted, among other things, in Russia’s belligerent actions. It is also worth mentioning that the steps taken by NATO are defensive in nature and in full compliance with international commitments.
At the same time, NATO remains open to dialogue with Russia and keeps those channels open to avoid the risk of military escalation and confrontation, which is very important for global security. It was, however, very clearly stated in Warsaw, there will be no ‘business as usual’ until Russia changes the course of action, complies with international law, and demonstrates respect for its international commitments. It is very important that NATO remains steadfast and committed to the values and principles on which the Alliance is based.
TCB: What is NATO’s role in security of the Black Sea and southern Europe? Is NATO doing enough?
AM: The importance of the Black Sea for Georgia and for NATO is hard to overlook. It represents an integral part of Euro-Atlantic security, with three littoral states being NATO Allies. If NATO enlargement has increased security of the Black Sea region and extended the area of stability into the southeastern part of Europe, Russia’s occupation of the Georgian regions in 2008 and its illegal annexation of Crimea and further destabilization of eastern Ukraine have gravely deteriorated the Black Sea security environment.
Russia’s objective is crystal clear – to limit the foreign and security policy choices of the regional countries and re-establish the so called ‘zones of privileged interest.’ At the same time, Russia continues to strengthen its military posture in the Black Sea area. Intensive military build-up in Georgia’s occupied regions and massive militarization of Crimea raise serious concerns regarding the true intentions of Moscow.
In the context of a changing security environment in the Black Sea, we believe it is critical that NATO increases its engagement and visibility in the region. In this regard, we welcome the decision of the Warsaw Summit to develop NATO’s tailored presence in the Black Sea region based on Romania’s initiative to establish a multinational framework brigade. It is encouraging that NATO intends to deepen its focus on security in the Black Sea region and attaches great importance to strengthening dialogue and cooperation with non-member states. Georgia is engaged in strategic discussions on Black Sea security with the Alliance and is determined to continue its contribution to security and stability of the region.
TCB: How important is the U.S. to NATO and vice versa?
AM: The transatlantic bond has been essential since the very beginning of the last century’s great endeavor towards a Europe whole, free, and at peace. This link remains as strong as ever. Georgia has a longstanding strategic partnership with the U.S. and the visit of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to Georgia right before the Warsaw Summit is another demonstration of close friendship between the states. With the view to further strengthen and enhance this strategic partnership, Secretary Kerry and Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili signed the Memorandum on Deepening the Defense and Security Partnership between the United States of America and Georgia. The document reflects the commitment of the parties to deepen the defense and security relationship, move forward Georgia’s NATO integration, and cooperate in strengthening Georgia’s self-defense capabilities and resilience.
