Vice Minister V. Umbrasas urged Georgia to step interoperability with NATO through participation in different NATO exercise and operations, and assured that Lithuania was prepared to actively continue the cooperation with Georgia in both, bilateral and NATO formats.
“Georgia’s progress on democratic reforms is visible, it has a positive effect on the country’s development and is valued by NATO and the European Union. Yet, further efforts to implement the reforms and to do your homework are necessary,” Vice Minister V. Umbrasas stressed while speaking at the “Georgia on the right track – in the pursuit of membership” panel concerning Georgia’s full-fledged membership in the Alliance. Vice Minister also invited Georgia to arm itself with strategic patience until the right political conditions for its full-fledged NATO membership appear.
The conference also addressed the changing security situation in the Black Sea region and globally, and the growing influence of Russia in the region. Also, emerging threats and challenges, preparedness to face them, and transformation, as well as readiness, of the Georgian Armed Forces to become a member of NATO, the NATO “Open Door Policy”, have been discussed.
Vice Minister V. Umbrasas met with Vice Minister of Defence of Georgia Lela Chikovani on the margins of the conference. Georgian Vice Minister thanked Lithuania for practical assistance and political support in defence area and underscored the appreciation of the bilateral cooperation with Lithuania, Georgia’s strategic partner. Vice Minister V. Umbrasas underscored that Lithuania was ready to continue and step the cooperation with Georgia in bilateral, NATO and EU formats.
The 13th annual Georgia Security and Defence Conference taking place in Batumi on November 6–7 is a unique and largest in the region event on security and defence. The event is attended by high-ranking politicians, security and defence experts, academics, media and NGO representatives.
Georgia seeks NATO and EU membership. Following the 2008 war, Russia recognized sovereignty of South Ossetia which declared separation in the previous century and another breakaway region, Abkhazia. The international community recognizes South Ossetia and Abkhazia as occupied territories of Georgia.
Defence cooperation of Lithuania and Georgia
Lithuania and Georgia actively cooperate in military area. Georgian representatives are studying at the General Jonas Žematis Military Academy of Lithuania, Lithuanian Armed Forces School, Military Medical Service, Baltic Defence College in Estonia. High-level visits and academic exchange of English language students and teachers of Lithuanian and Georgian military academies are arranged. Lithuania provides consultations for Georgian colleagues on cyber security and strategic communication, Georgian troops train in Lithuania and Lithuanian – in Georgia. Lithuania also supports implementation of projects of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package: since 2015 Lithuania and other Nordic and Baltic countries have been helping with the creation of the NATO-Georgia joint Training and Assessment Centre.
Lithuania and Georgia are also intensifying cooperation on cybersecurity by developing a joint cyber exercise plan and exchanging experience in cyber-tool design. In spring earlier this year Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis and Minister of Defence of Georgia Levan Izoria signed a Declaration of Intent defining Georgia’s participation in the prospective Regional Cybersecurity Centre in Kaunas.