Retired US general: Georgia has nothing to prove, NATO should open its door
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Wednesday, February 13
Ben Hodges, a retired United States Army officer who served as commanding general of the US Army Europe, believes that NATO has to invite Georgia in the alliance during its next summit.
Hodges has told the Voice of America that not many were excited in the alliance about the idea of Georgia’s NATO membership.
“They are concerned as Russia continues the occupation of Georgian Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions. But there is such a precedent. East Germany was under the occupation of the Soviet Union when it was accepted into the alliance,” Hodges said.
He said that it is in the interests of both NATO and Georgia to become the alliance member.
“Georgian soldiers sacrificed a lot in Afghanistan. Everybody wants to fight with Georgians because they are so good. You do not have to prove anything. It is upon the alliance to take a step and invite Georgia as a NATO member,” Hodges says.
Hodges says that Georgia’s significance to NATO will be increased after the construction of the Anaklia deep seaport, a 2.5 billion USD project which is scheduled to be completed in two years in western Georgia.
“Anaklia has high potential to become a European and Eurasian regional logistics center. I believe that after the launch of the port the United States and other member countries of NATO will become more interested to ensure the safety of the country, as Georgia’s role in the economic field will be seriously grown,” Hodges said
Hodges stated that before Georgia becomes a NATO member it should be closely involved in Black Sea security.
In the context, he mentioned the aerodrome Georgia and US plan to build jointly.
The Georgian Defense Ministry briefly announced in November 2018 that an aerodrome will be built in Vaziani military base.
