Video message by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the closing ceremony of the NATO-Georgia exercise, 24 March 2022.
🗣 | NATO Secretary General:
Prime Minister Garibasjvili,
Minister Burchuladze,
General Matiashvili,
Dear all.
Today marks the closing of the NATO-Georgia exercise.
For the past two weeks, the Georgian armed forces and the armed forces of Allied and partner countries have trained side by side.
You worked together to advance interoperability.
Enhance mutual awareness.
And build trust.
This exercise, which we conducted for the third time,
shows NATO’s commitment to strengthen Georgia's defence capabilities.
By training and educating its armed forces.
It is demonstrating NATO’s close cooperation with Georgia.
This year, the exercise took place against a critical background.
President Putin is pressing ahead with his brutal and senseless invasion of Ukraine.
He has shattered peace in Europe.
It is not the first time Russia uses force to pursue its objectives.
Georgians know this all too well.
We saw it happen in your country in 2008.
We saw it in Crimea in 2014.
And we see it again with the war in Ukraine today.
This is the worst military aggression in Europe for decades.
It is causing death and destruction every day.
It threatens security in Europe and beyond.
And challenges the entire international rules-based order.
NATO Allies strongly condemn Russia’s aggression.
We call on President Putin to stop the war immediately.
Withdraw all his forces from Ukraine.
And engage in genuine diplomacy.
We are determined to continue to impose heavy costs on the Kremlin,
to bring about an end to this brutal war.
At the same time, NATO Allies have stepped up their support to Ukraine.
With military equipment, financial assistance, and humanitarian aid.
To save lives.
And help the country uphold its right of self-defence.
We will also continue to support our other partners, such as Georgia.
This is why we are consulting closely with Tbilisi.
And coordinating our responses.
Putin’s war in Ukraine has created a new reality for Euro-Atlantic security.
Where fundamental principles are contested using force.
In this new era, NATO Allies stand together.
Also with like-minded partners, and countries around the world.
We will stand up to defend our core principles.
Including every country’s right to choose its own path.
This is also Georgia’s right.
And it must be respected.
Strong and capable armed forces are key to uphold Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
And NATO will continue to support you in your efforts.
Because we believe in the rules-based international order.
Where democracy prevails over tyranny.
And where people are safe, free and prosperous.
Thank you.
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