Gallery: Saakashvili in Afghanistan

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said Feb. 20 that the U.S.-Georgian military cooperation has reached a new level, which will allow the country to upgrade its defense.

While visiting with Georgian soldiers taking part in the ISAF Mission in Afghanistan, Saakashvili said “Georgia is our main priority and we should all care about protecting it. These young people in Afghanistan are here, first of all, for Georgia.”

In a Feb. 2 briefing in Washington, the U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Victoria Nuland said that the U.S. and Georgia had agreed to continue the bilateral defense and security cooperation.   

“This cooperation is based on successful programs, which are already in place, in order to assist the Georgian armed forces in implementing reforms, which we have been doing for many armed forces in the world, including Georgia’s neighbors; and to assist in modernizing its defense… as well as to support the ISAF Mission in Afghanistan, where the Georgian military is cooperating with NATO. Georgia has one of the largest contingents in Afghanistan among non-NATO member countries,” Nuland said.   

After the meetings held in the White House, Saakashvili said that that the U.S.-Georgia cooperation is entering a new level. While emphasis had previously been placed on preparing Georgian soldiers for participation in various international missions, it is now about Georgia improving its defense abilities, Saakashvili said.