We will increase the frequency of exercises and try to hold them once every 2 years instead of three, and we will also try to find more synergies with other international organizations, including the European Union, to help Georgia, said Alexander Vinnikov, the head of the NATO Liaison Office.
According to him, at the NATO Summit in Madrid, the Allies supported a package of individually tailored support measures for Georgia, which expresses NATO's strong political support for Georgia. More specifically, it expresses support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity and NATO's commitment to the decision of the Bucharest Summit regarding Georgia's eventual membership.
"Allies supported a set of measures, we call them individually tailored support measures for Georgia, which is one of the NATO partner countries most directly affected by external threats and interference in the security environment, which is related to Russia's unprovoked aggression against Ukraine. Individually tailored support measures demonstrate NATO's strong political support for Georgia, more specifically support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and NATO's commitment to the decision of the Bucharest Summit regarding Georgia's eventual membership.
Clearly, the strategic concept, in which the security of the aspirant countries, including Georgia, was supported, is intertwined with the security of NATO allies. I will say here that the strategic concept also reaffirms NATO's commitment to the open door policy and to the decisions made at the Bucharest summit and subsequent summits. The measures include both political and practical assistance for Georgia in an individually tailored package. This new package is designed to help Georgia increase its capabilities as well as strengthen its resilience, including by increasing Georgia's participation in NATO cyber exercises, enhancing secure communications, and strengthening critical infrastructure protection.
We will continue to work on the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package, which remains the main framework for our practical assistance, including in areas such as air defence, intelligence, crisis management and cyber defence. We are also thinking of adding some new workspaces to the package. We will increase the frequency of exercises and try to hold them once every 2 years instead of 3. We will also try to find more synergies with other international organizations, including the European Union, to help Georgia. NATO plans to add staff to this office. In the coming months, we will work with Georgia on the implementation of the decisions made in Madrid", said Alexander Vinnikov.