NATO Official: NATO Allies Are Concerned About Georgia's Trajectory – The Alliance Urges Georgia to Continue Reforms and Uphold Democratic Values

NATO explains why there is no mention of Georgia and Ukraine’s membership in the organization in the 2024 Secretary General’s annual report.

"Since its launch in 2011, the NATO Secretary General’s Annual Report has evolved significantly. For his first Annual Report, Secretary General Rutte decided to have a more accessible, concise, and focused document, in line with NATO’s sharp focus on meeting the challenges of the current security environment. As a result, there are numerous topics and details not included in the 2024 report. This does not imply any change to NATO policies or the status of any NATO partner.

Georgia is one of NATO’s closest partners and aspires to join the Alliance. To advance its Euro-Atlantic aspirations, Georgia must make reform progress a priority, including enhancing democratic and rule-of-law reforms. NATO Allies have had substantial concerns with Georgia’s trajectory, following the adoption of the foreign influence law, the family values law and the increased polarisation before, during and after the parliamentary elections in 2024. They are also concerned about actions taken against peaceful protesters.

In light of recent developments in Georgia. NATO has made some adjustments to the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP) initiatives. Of the total 17 initiatives, 5 are currently on hold and will not be resumed until further notice (Strategic Communications, Cyber Security, Crisis Management, CBRN, and Training Facilities); of the remaining 12, 2 are continuing with some adaptations (Intelligence Exchange and Secure Communications, and Military Police); and 10 will continue without change (NATO-Georgia Training and Evaluation Centre, Defence Institutions Building School, Air Defence, Aviation, Military Engineering, Military Medical Capability Development, Maritime Security, Special Operations Forces, Standardisation and Codification, and English Language Capacity Building).There are three successfully completed initiatives: Strategic and Operational Planning (closed in 2017); Logistics (closed in 2020); and Acquisition (closed in 2023).

We encourage Georgia to pursue domestic reforms and uphold democratic values. The Georgian people have made clear that they want a democratic, prosperous future within the European and Euro-Atlantic family.

NATO continues to fully support Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, within its internationally recognised borders. NATO further calls on Russia to reverse its recognition of the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions of Georgia as independent states; to implement the EU-mediated 2008 ceasefire agreement; to end its militarisation of these regions and attempts to forcibly separate them from the rest of Georgia through the continued construction of border-like obstacles; and to cease the human rights violations, arbitrary detentions, and harassment of Georgian citizens. Every sovereign nation, including Georgia, has the right to choose its own security arrangements, and Russia has no right to dictate that choice.

NATO also strongly supports Georgia’s reforms and defence transformation process, which aim further development of modern, well-trained and educated defence forces capable to ensure country’s security and contribute to international peace and stability,” the NATO official said in response to "Interpressnews."