Strengthening Georgia-NATO Relations: Interview with the Head of NATO Liaison Office

Alexander Vinnikov, Head of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia, provides valuable insights into the current state of Georgia-NATO relations, challenges on Georgia's path to NATO membership, the Black Sea's security dynamics, collaboration in non-military domains, public support for NATO in Georgia, and his priorities for the upcoming year in advancing Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

As the Head of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia, you have been in office for over a year and a half now. Could you share your overall assessment of the current state of Georgia-NATO relations? What progress has been made during this period? 

Georgia is one of NATO’s closest partners, and the relationship we have with Georgia is very valuable, including in the extraordinary times we are living through. Our support for Georgia, both political and practical, is as strong as ever, and Georgia continues to benefit from a wide range of partnership tools. NATO’s support is aimed at strengthening the capabilities of Georgia’s defence and related security sector institutions, its interoperability with the Alliance, and thus the country’s capacity to defend itself. Ultimately, our support  helps Georgia on the path towards eventual NATO membership; a path that requires significant further progress in the area of reforms, so that Georgia can meet the Euro-Atlantic standards and principles required of every aspirant.

 At the 2022 Madrid Summit, Allies endorsed a set of additional, tailored support measures for Georgia, as one of NATO’s partners most directly affected by external threats and interference in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The measures further step up both political and practical support to Georgia, and is designed to strengthen its resilience against hybrid threats. The additional measures are a visible expression of NATO’s unwavering political support for Georgia, and in particular its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, as well as Allies’ commitment to the 2008 Bucharest Summit decisions on Georgia’s eventual membership, and NATO’s open-door policy. These were further reconfirmed in NATO’s Strategic Concept last year as well as the Vilnius Summit communiqué adopted last July.

 The high number of senior-level visits to Georgia, as well as regular dialogue at the highest levels in Brussels and elsewhere, is further testimony to the strength of our relations. And as a friend of Georgia, NATO encourages Georgia’s further progress in line with its Euro-Atlantic aspirations, including in the area of democratic reforms. 

Having previously held the same position in Ukraine, how do you perceive the ongoing conflict in Ukraine?

NATO condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia's brutal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine – an independent, democratic and peaceful country, and close NATO partner. Russia bears full responsibility for its actions, which have gravely undermined Euro-Atlantic and global security. Its full scale aggression of Ukraine in 2022 followed its illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.

 NATO and Allies continue to provide Ukraine with unprecedented levels of support, helping to uphold its fundamental right to self-defence under the UN Charter, and we will continue to do so for as long as it takes.

 At the most recent NATO Summit in Vilnius, Allies demonstrated their support again by reiterating that Ukraine will become a member of NATO. In addition, Allies adopted an unprecedented multi-year substantial package of assistance to help Ukraine achieve full interoperability with NATO, established the NATO-Ukraine Council (where Allies and Ukraine meet as equals), and Allies agreed to remove the requirement for a Membership Action Plan, thus moving Ukraine’s eventual accession from a two-step process to a one-step process. All these points were reiterated at last week’s Meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels.

 The extraordinary resilience and heroism of Ukraine’s defenders and population have inspired the world. What is also inspiring is that even in wartime, Ukraine continues to pursue difficult reforms and thus make progress on both the European and Euro-Atlantic tracks. Having indeed previously served in Kyiv (as Head of the NATO Representation to Ukraine from 2015 to 2021), I stand in full solidarity with my former colleagues, partners and friends who continue to defend their country. Ukraine is also defending our common values, and deserves our fullest and unwavering support.

 Georgia has been actively pursuing NATO membership for several years. What do you see as the main obstacles or challenges for Georgia on its path towards NATO membership, and how can these challenges be overcome?

 Over the years, Georgia has carried out an impressive range of reforms, including when it comes to its defence forces and the wider security sector. However, more needs to be done, even in these complex times.

 I would highlight, in particular, the issue of democratic parliamentary oversight of the security sector. Also critical are reforms in the area of the rule of law, electoral reforms and freedom of media. There is still more that should be done to align the Georgian system with the democratic values and principles of NATO member states. We encourage Georgia to recover the momentum in its reforms. And NATO is helping Georgia on this path, including through the Annual National Programme.

 Georgia has implemented various reforms to align itself with NATO standards and values. Could you highlight some of the notable reforms that have taken place in Georgia recently, and their impact on the country's Euro-Atlantic integration prospects?

To track and galvanise progress on its path to NATO membership, Georgia has an Annual National Programme (ANP), a document focused on comprehensive democratic, security and defence reforms which is developed annually by Georgia in consultation with NATO.

 Popular support in Georgia for the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration is currently near an all-time high, and the aspiration of joining the Euro-Atlantic family has long been a driving force behind Georgia’s foreign policy and domestic reforms. Georgia has been a regional frontrunner in democratization for the past two decades and NATO Allies took note of the steps undertaken by Georgia, including the recent withdrawal of the “foreign agents” law.

 In June 2022, Georgia was granted a European perspective by the EU, and 12 recommendations of priority areas to be addressed. NATO has also provided recommendations to the Georgian government through the ANP. There is significant overlap between these recommendations. Therefore, any progress Georgia makes towards EU membership will also bring Georgia closer to NATO membership.

 We encourage our Georgian partners to continue the further implementation of key reforms, strengthen democratic institutions and solve systemic challenges. NATO remains committed to further deepening its cooperation with Georgia and to working together in support of Georgia’s ambitious reform programme.

 The Black Sea region holds strategic importance for both NATO and Russia. Given your experience in Ukraine and your current position in Georgia, how do you perceive the security dynamics in the Black Sea region, and what role can NATO play in ensuring stability and security?

 The Black Sea region is of strategic importance for the Alliance. Three of the littoral states in the Black Sea are NATO Allies (Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey), and two are very close partners (Georgia and Ukraine). The importance of Black Sea has been highlighted in the new Strategic Concept, NATO’s second most important document. Allies agreed that they will continue to support the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of interested countries in these regions, enhance efforts to bolster their capabilities to address the distinct threats and challenges they face, and boost their resilience against malign third-party interference and coercion.

We have seen a surge of Russian attacks on Ukraine in the Black Sea in recent weeks. We condemn Russia’s repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure, such as Ukrainian grain storage facilities, including those close to Romania and we condemn Russia’s attempts to stop Ukraine’s grain exports on which hundreds of millions of people depend worldwide. These irresponsible actions jeopardize global food security, safety of navigation, and Allied security.

In response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, NATO has significantly increased its presence in the region, including with two new battlegroups in Bulgaria and Romania. We have also stepped up surveillance over the Black Sea. And the US has deployed additional US F-16s to bolster NATO air policing in Romania. These are prudent and non-escalatory steps. They are concrete demonstrations of our capability and resolve to defend every Ally.

Beyond military cooperation, NATO emphasizes partnerships in various areas, such as counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and resilience. In what ways has Georgia been collaborating with NATO in these non-military domains, and what are the main achievements so far?

 NATO support in the area of cyber has traditionally focused on capacity building with the Ministry of Defence under the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP) ’s Cyber Defence Initiative. Other NATO tools have also supported the development of cyber security in Georgia. With the tailored support measures for Georgia agreed at the Madrid Summit, NATO and Georgia have are currently extending cyber cooperation also beyond the Ministry of Defence, to a national level, under an enhanced (and renamed) SNGP Cyber Security Initiative.

 Public support for NATO membership is an essential factor for success. How would you assess the level of public support for NATO in Georgia, and what can be done to further enhance public awareness and understanding of NATO's role and benefits?

Recent public opinion polls show that an overwhelming majority of Georgian citizens support the country’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Georgia has made a clear choice, and Georgia belongs in the Euro-Atlantic community of nations. NATO strongly supports and respects the right of every sovereign country to choose its own security arrangements, and whether to join any treaty or organization. NATO has been extremely clear with Russia: we will not compromise on our basic principles; we will not compromise on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine or Georgia. But to join the Alliance, a nation is expected to respect the values of the North Atlantic Treaty, and to meet certain political, economic, and military requirements. Indeed, it is important to remember that it is not only the Ministry of Defence or Armed Forces that join NATO; it is the entire country.

 Finally, as the Head of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia, what are your priorities for the upcoming year in terms of advancing Georgia-NATO relations and supporting Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations?

 The priorities of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia include maintaining and further increasing dialogue and relations with all relevant stakeholders. In this regard, we continue to provide advice and assistance to the government of Georgia in support of civilian and military reform efforts required for Euro-Atlantic integration, including in the area of democratic oversight of security and defence.

We will also continue to support and facilitate the provision of practical assistance, delivered primarily through the various SNGP Initiatives, as well as through other capacity-building programmes in the areas of professional development, defence planning, defence education, the development of good governance within the Georgian security structures and institutions, science, and other cooperation programmes. Another priority for the NLO is supporting the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda in Georgia through advocacy, advice and capacity-building.

 And last but certainly not least, we prioritize public diplomacy. We engage directly with the Georgian public on a continuous basis to promote awareness of NATO in general, and NATO-Georgia cooperation as well as the work of the NATO Liaison Office in particular. We place a particular emphasis on outreach to the various regions of Georgia, to meet in person with interested officials, journalists, civil society representatives, community leaders, teachers, students, and other interested stakeholders.