In his remarks about the recent visit of U.S. Vice President Mike Pence to Georgia, Kakha Kukava, leader of Free Georgia, said that the United States does not provide tangible assistance to Georgia and that the assistance provided by this strategic partner is as symbolic, as Pence’s visit to Georgia.
Kakha Kukava, Free Georgia: “Actually, the military hardware brought by the United States, will be taken back. Not a single military vehicle will stay in Georgia. To say the truth, the United States provides only symbolic assistance to Georgia… Nobody obstructs the United States to render real assistance to Georgia, but it refuses to do it and sends Pence instead. This very much looks like the story, when France neglected Sulkhan Saba Orbeliani’s appeal for military assistance and offered the support of Catholic missionaries instead.”
Alia, August 7-13
This statement is groundless, because the financial and technical assistance provided by the United States to Georgia for training and equipment of its troops, increasing its defense capacities, border protection and post-conflict stabilization and rehabilitation during 2000-2017 years totaled USD 1 230 942 478.
Source: The database of Security Assistance Monitor, a program of the Center for International Policy. The database involves the assistance provided by the U.S. Department of State, the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.
Below, we offer the review of U.S. security and defense assistance to Georgia in five main directions (see infographics).
Prepared by Dali Kurdadze
