Georgian experts ask Pompeo for permanent presence of American armed forces in Georgia

16-11-2020 19:37:30 Defense ,Foreign Politics

Georgian experts have asked U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for a permanent presence of American armed forces in Georgia.

"We, the representatives of the security and foreign policy community of Georgia, sincerely welcome your visit to Tbilisi during these heated times. We are united in our desire to share our views on advancing the U.S.-Georgia defense and security partnership. For Georgia, the United States is a vital ally. Likewise, we believe in Georgia’s share in bolstering Western interests in Europe and globally. Georgia stands as a keystone for securing our allies’ foothold in the East-West Corridor, which multiple U.S. administrations have invested so much to build. We see a U.S.-led Euro-Atlantic system as the only guarantor of a Europe that is whole, free, and at peace.

In recent years, the South Caucasus and the Black Sea regions have become areas of geopolitical instability. Most of these security risks stem from Russia’s ambitions to reconstitute a Soviet-era “sphere of influence,” in what Moscow perceives as its “Near Abroad.” Emboldened by its freedom of action, Russia recently deployed troops to Nagorno-Karabakh to enhance its regional military posture.

Since regaining independence, the freedom-loving citizens of Georgia have toiled to create a functional democracy. In this project, the United States has been an indispensable ally by elevating Georgia to, in the words of President Ronald Reagan, a “Shining City Upon a Hill” that has overcome state failure and successfully battled the Soviet legacy of corruption. The Georgian people do not take genuine American friendship for granted. Over 90 percent of Georgians hold a favorable view of the U.S. and Georgian soldiers have proudly served in the U.S.-led missions in Iraq and Afghanistan," Georgian Security and Foreign Policy Community said in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State.

"We express our profound appreciation for America’s strong support to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We believe that a key step forward to support the Georgian people in our struggle for freedom, while advancing U.S. regional and global interests, would be:

  • A permanent presence of American armed forces in Georgia. Such a policy may include allied (U.S./European) forces on a rotational basis, as well as logistical and air patrolling elements that would provide a wide range of options for American and allied forces to operate uninterrupted in the South Caucasus and Black Sea regions. At the same time, the U.S. military presence in Georgia would enjoy overwhelming popular support, deter imminent threats and help Georgia move closer to NATO membership.

At this point, Georgia’s capacity to meaningfully contribute to our strategic partnership will be further enhanced by the resilience and vibrancy of its democratic institutions. In this light, we welcome the valuable U.S. engagement in mediating a solution to Georgia’s current political crisis. We are likewise grateful for the momentous and sustained efforts that the U.S. has made over the years, to help strengthen Georgia’s democracy.

We fully support the process of strengthening the U.S.-Georgia alliance, inclusive of the presence of the U.S. military on the ground, to the benefit of shared Euro-Atlantic security.", the letter reads.

The letter was signed by:

  • Zviad AdzinbaiaInternational Security and Digital Diplomacy Fellow, The Fletcher School, Tufts UniversityFounder, LEADx Change
  • Eka AkobiaDean, Associate Professor, The School of Governance, Caucasus University
  • Irakli AlasaniaFormer Minister of DefenseFormer Ambassador to the United Nations
  • Irina ArabidzeNational Security and Foreign Policy Analyst
  • Phikria AsanishviliAssociate Professor of International Relations, Tbilisi State University
  • Giorgi AstamadzeDoctoral Candidate in History, University of Karlsruhe
  • Nato BachiashviliChairperson of International Centre for Geopolitical Studies
  • Giorgi BadridzeSenior Fellow, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (Rondeli Foundation)Former Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain
  • Zurab BatiashviliResearch Fellow, Rondeli Foundation
  • Zaza BibilashviliChairman, The Chavchavadze Center for European Studies and Civic Education
  • Levan BodzashviliFormer Deputy National Security Assistant to PresidentFormer Deputy Foreign Minister
  • Eto BuziashviliResearch Associate, Atlantic CouncilFormer Adviser to the National Security Council
  • Mikheil DarchiashviliFormer Deputy Defense MinisterMember of the Governing Board, Atlantic Council of Georgia
  • Davit DarchiashviliProfessor, Director, Center for Russian Studies, Ilia State University
  • Jaba DevdarianiFounder, the United Nations Association of Georgia & Civil.ge
  • Paata GaprindashviliDirector, Georgia’s Reforms AssociatesFormer Ambassador to Austria
  • Kakha GogolashviliDirector of European Studies at Rondeli Foundation (GFSIS)
  • Giorgi GoguadzeAssistant Professor of International Affairs, Caucasus University
  • Tornike GordadzeFormer Minister of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of GeorgiaProfessor, Paris Institute of Political Studies (France)
  • Giorgi GvaliaProfessor of Politics and International Relations, Ilia State University
  • Shota GvineriaSenior Fellow, Economic Policy Research CenterFormer Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands
  • Gia JaparidzeSenior Fellow, Ilia Chavchavadze Center for European Studies and Civic Education. Former Charge d’Affaires to Portugal and Cyprus
  • Tedo JaparidzeFormer Ambassador to the United StatesFormer Foreign Minister
  • Nino KalandadzeDirector, The Chavchavadze Center for European Studies and Civic Education
  • Nodar KharshiladzeFounding Director, Georgian Strategic Analysis CenterFormer Deputy Minister of Defense
  • Tinatin KhidasheliChairperson, Civic IdeaFormer Minister of Defense
  • Beka KobakhidzeChair, MA Program in Modern History of Georgia, Ilia State University
  • Batu KuteliaVice-chair, Atlantic Council of GeorgiaFormer Ambassador to the United States
  • Khatuna LagazidzeSenior Fellow, Georgian Strategic Analysis CenterFormer Senior Advisor to the National Security Council
  • Ekaterine MetreveliPresident, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (Rondeli Foundation)
  • Grigol MgaloblishviliFormer Ambassador of Georgia to NATO
  • Khatuna MshvidobadzeProfessorial Lecturer, The George Washington UniversitySenior Fellow, Senior Fellow, Rondeli Foundation
  • Giorgi MuchaidzeExecutive Director, Atlantic Council of Georgia
  • Sophia PetriashviliFormer Associate Professor of International Relations, Tbilisi State University
  • Alex PetriashviliFormer Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic IntegrationFormer Ambassador to Turkmenistan and Afghanistan
  • Tengiz PkhaladzeAssociate Professor, Georgian Institute of Public AffairsFormer Foreign Policy Advisor to the President
  • Mirian PopkhadzeFellow, Foreign Policy Research InstituteFormer Representative of Ministry of Defense to the United Nations
  • Irakli PorchkhidzeVice President, the Georgian Institute for Strategic Studies (GISS)
  • Datuna RakviashviliSecretary, National Security Council, 2016 – 2018
  • Giorgi RukhadzeSenior Fellow, Georgian Strategic Analysis Center
  • Tornike SharashenidzeProfessor of International Affairs, Georgian Institute of Public Affairs
  • Vasil SikharulidzePresident, the Atlantic Council of Georgia; Former Ambassador to the United States
  • Tornike TurmanidzeProfessor of International Relations, Tbilisi State University
  • Gela VasadzeRegional Program Manager, Georgian Strategic Analysis Center
  • Temuri YakobashviliAmbassador of Georgia to the United States (2010-2013)

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