NATO’s Appathurai says alliance open for Georgia, vows additional support as Russia invades Ukraine

Jame Appathurai, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, who is visiting Tbilisi, says that the alliance’s door remains open for Georgia and that this will be reaffirmed in a document released at the end of June. 

He stated today that his visit to Georgia is a “confirmation of NATO’s decision” to do more for the alliance partners given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“The Russian war in Ukraine fundamentally changed the security map in Europe and it changed it in the long run. We are doing our best to support Ukraine, we are doing our best to put pressure on Russia to end this war, we are doing our best to isolate Russia diplomatically, once again to put pressure on it to stop this war,” Appathurai said. 

He stated that along this, NATO members have decided “that we need to do more to support our closest partners, including Georgia and that is why I am here.” 

Apppathurai said that cyber-attacks were part of Russia’s attack on Ukraine both before the military aggression and in parallel with the ongoing war. 

“it is necessary for Georgia, as well as all NATO member states, to strengthen cyber security,” Appathurai said. 

The Georgian MPs stated that Appathurai’s visit once again confirmed  a close partnership between Georgia and the alliance.