Georgian, German Defense Ministers Meet in Berlin

Georgian Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli met her German counterpart Ursula von der Leyen in Berlin on November 27.

Germany’s Defense Ministry said in a brief press release that the two countries have a close military cooperation, noting that about 130 Georgian soldiers, trained and equipped by Germany, are stationed under the German command in Afghanistan.

Georgian troops at the German army’s camp Marmal in Mazar-i-Sharif perform duties of quick reaction force. Georgia, which is the second largest troop contributor to NATO-led mission in Afghanistan with 856 soldiers, also has its troops deployed at the Bagram Air Field in the Parwan province and in Kabul.

In Berlin the Georgian Defense Minister also met Chancellor Angela Merkel’s foreign and security policy adviser Christoph Heusgen.

“The meetings were very positive,” Khidasheli said. “The Defense Minister has reiterated full support towards Georgia and thanked for our contribution to global security… I am confident that with the German support we will be able to move Georgia’s bilateral relations with Germany, as well as NATO-Georgia relations, to a new stage.”

Reuters reported on November 27 that NATO member are split over what message to send Georgia when Alliance’s foreign ministers gather in Brussels on December 1-2. Germany, while in favor of Montenegro joining, remains opposed to Georgia’s NATO membership, Reuters reported.

At the next year’s NATO summit in Warsaw, Tbilisi wants from the Alliance to either grant Georgia a Membership Action Plan (MAP) or declare that MAP is no longer a precursor on its path to eventual membership.

Georgia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Dondua said in early October that it was not likely to get MAP at NATO summit next year.

Dondua, along with Georgian State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration David Bakradze, was in Brussels on November 24 where meeting of the NATO-Georgia Commission was held.

NATO said in a press release after the meeting: “Allies welcomed Georgia’s steady democratic reforms and progress on rule of law, encouraging Georgia to continue on this path. They further discussed the implementation of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package of measures, which was launched at the Wales Summit in 2014 to help Georgia improve its defence capabilities and move towards NATO membership. Allies said they looked forward to the full implementation of the package, and to deepening cooperation with Georgia.”