U.S. Increases Military Assistance to Georgia

Georgian Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze said on September 27 that the United States will continue to assist Georgia in its training and equipping of its soldiers.

“The United States will increase its assistance to Georgia by almost three times. This means that over 4 thousand Georgian soldiers will be trained and equipped according to U.S. standards,” Giorgi Baramidze told reporters upon his arrival from the United States, where he held talks with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State and other officials.

He also said the issue of rendering assistance to Georgian peacekeepers deployed in Iraq was discussed as well.

“Georgia is ready to dispatch additional peacekeeping troops to Iraq, if they are provided with the same conditions as the U.S. troops,” the Georgian Defense Minister added.

He denied the reports over Georgia’s intention to obtain an anti-aircraft missile system from the United States, however, added that the Georgian authorities plan to allocate USD 10 million towards strengthening its air defense system.