Stoltenberg promises that Georgia will become a NATO member
After the meeting with the U.S. national security adviser, John Bolton, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg assured that NATO will continue to support Georgia’s and Ukraine’s efforts to join the Alliance, reports Voice of America.
"Georgia will become a NATO member," said Stoltenberg during the speech at the Heritage Foundation research centre.
The Secretary General also said that the Alliance does not intend to retreat because of the pressure from Russia.
"For us, there is no contradiction in being firm and resolute in our approaches to Russia, while at the same time seeking a dialogue," he said.
Stoltenberg stressed that NATO is not interested in confrontation, noting that Moscow is "ready to use military force against its neighbors".
"We see that Russia invests resources in numerous (military) capabilities, as well as intelligence. Because of this, for the first time since the end of the Cold War, NATO allies have increased their budget for defense. "
Jens Stoltenberg stressed that he sees few signs that Russia is reducing activity in this direction.
"We saw how they used media, social media and misinformation trying to influence political processes in various European countries," said the secretary general.
Previously Stoltenberg said that NATO will not offer Ukraine a program of expanded opportunities yet. However, he promised that the Allience would support Ukraine in other ways.
In the spring of 2018, NATO acknowledged Ukraine's desire to gain full membership in this organization.
President Petro Poroshenko then said that Ukraine's next goal is the Membership Action Plan (MAP).
Ukraine wanted to receive the NATO Membership Action Plan back in 2008 at the Alliance's summit in Bucharest, but Germany and France blocked the approval.
The North Atlantic Treaty requires the consent of all NATO members for the new country to join the alliance.