‘Ambitious’ defense program
By Tea Mariamidze
Wednesday, May 10
Georgia’s Defense Minister, Levan Izoria, says that the Unites States is Georgia’s main strategic partner.
“I want to emphasize that we are launching a very ambitious program,” the minister added.
The Minister stated that this year a combat training center will be opened in Vaziani, which is being built by Georgia together with the US.
“There is a similar training center in Germany too, within the US military base. This relationship does not include only defense and security. I want to reiterate the government's firm position that we will continue to develop our country,” Izoria said.
The minister also underlined that Georgia and the US are important strategic allies and together they make a very important contribution to global security.
Moreover, Izoria commented on Georgian Prime Minister Kvirikashvili’s visit to the US on May 8, where he met President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
“This was a very successful and very important visit,” he said.
At present, Georgia is the largest contributor to ongoing peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan after the United States, with 872 Georgian deployed.
So far, 31 Georgian servicemen have lost their lives fighting against terrorism in Afghanistan.
