Georgia–United States relations
Georgia |
United States |
---|---|
Diplomatic mission | |
Embassy of Georgia, Washington, D.C. | Embassy of the United States, Tbilisi |
Relations between the countries of Georgia and the United States continue to be very close and encompass multiple areas of bilateral cooperation. One of the key U.S. allies in Eastern Europe, Georgia was the third largest troop contributor in the Iraq War and the largest per-capita contributor to the U.S. led mission in Afghanistan. The United States for its part is actively assisting Georgia in strengthening its state institutions in face of increasing pressure from its northern neighbor Russia and has provided the country with financial assistance in excess of 3 billion dollars since 1991.[1] Since 2009, Georgian–American relations are streamlined by the U.S.–Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership, which created four bilateral working groups on priority areas of democracy; defense and security; economic, trade, energy issues, people-to-people and cultural exchanges.[1]
Since the early 2000s, Georgia has sought to become a member of
Georgian-American cooperation on development
The United States works closely with Georgia to promote mutual security,
The multi-year Georgia Train and Equip Program (GTEP) ended in 2004, achieving its intended goals of enhancing Georgia's military capability and stimulating military reform. Launched in January 2005, the Georgia Sustainment and Stability Operations Program has advanced GTEP's goals and trained the Georgian contingent participating in coalition operations in Iraq. Partnership with the Georgia (U.S.) National Guard, visits by the Sixth Fleet, the Coast Guard to Georgia, and the Bilateral Working Group on Defense and Military Cooperation are also important components of American security relationship with Georgia.
Promoting democracy and reform is another strategic pillar of America's bilateral relationship with Georgia. In April 2006, as part of these reforms Georgia passed a strong anti-human trafficking law and has since then ranked consistently among Tier 1 countries of the State Department's report on trafficking in persons, meaning that the country now fully complies with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.
Georgia hosts 90
The Iraq War
In a sign of Georgia's increased shift away from Russia and towards the West in the early 2000s, the country committed significant number of troops to U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, after wrapping up a smaller operation in the American-led peacekeeping mission in the war-torn Balkans. Georgia's contingent in Iraq originally consisted of 300 special forces troops under U.S. command in Baqouba, who guarded two bridges and three American Forward Operating Bases. 550 more troops were deployed in June 2005, which were placed under U.S. command on a dangerous 'Middle Ring Security' mission in the Green Zone.[7]
In 2007, Georgia brought the total number of its troops in Iraq to 2000, becoming the third largest troop contributor after the U.S. and the United Kingdom.[8] The troops, all of whom had been trained by American instructors, were based east of Baghdad, close to the border with Iran.[9]
During the
War in Afghanistan
Georgia currently maintains 1600 soldiers in the
Following the defeat of Georgia's ruling UNM Coalition in the
The virtually non-existent domestic opposition to Georgia's deployment in Afghanistan has not substantially increased despite increasing number of Georgian casualties. This is due to the fact that both U.S. and Georgian governments promote the Afghan involvement as one of the building blocks of Georgia's NATO membership, which has proved elusive in recent years due to Russian complaints[15]
South Ossetia conflict
Much like its Western allies, the United States condemned Russia's intrusion into Georgia's sovereign territory and while it abstained from direct military action, Washington used
On January 9, 2009, the
Following U.S. President
According to the 2012 U.S. Global Leadership Report, 51% of Georgians approve of U.S. leadership, with 15% disapproving and 34% uncertain.[20]
In February 2014, Georgian Premier
In his 2020 book A Promised Land, Barack Obama post-Presidency discussed the Georgia invasion by Russia, also explaining personally that "Medvedev's rebuttal on Georgia reminded me that he was no Boy Scout" (p. 341)! President Obama argued, as is the position on Ukraine in the UN, that the invasion and continued occupation of Georgia by Russian Federation violated Georgia's sovereignty and international law.[22] The situation is considered current in 2022.
American sanctions on Georgian officials
On April 5, 2023, the U.S. State Departament imposed visa restrictions on Georgian court Chairmen and members of the
The Coalition for Independent and Transparent Judiciary has considered the governance of the influential group of judges - the Clan - as the main challenge of the Georgian justice system. In its statement the coalition said that "the mentioned persons abused their positions as court chairpersons and members of the High Council of Justice, thereby harming the rule of law and the public's trust in the Georgian court system". The Georgian government criticized the U.S. State Departament for failing to provide relevant evidence of corrupt practices of these judges to the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia so it could start an investigation to verify these claims.
Resident diplomatic missions
- Georgia has an embassy in Washington, D.C. and consulates-general in New York City and San Francisco.
- United States has an embassy in Tbilisi.
See also
- Georgian Americans
- Foreign relations of the United States
- Foreign relations of Georgia (country)
- Bush Doctrine
References
- ^ Department of State Background Notes:Georgia
- ^ Andrei P. Tsygankov, "The Russia-NATO mistrust: Ethnophobia and the double expansion to contain 'the Russian Bear'." Communist and Post-Communist Studies 46.1 (2013): 179-188.
- ^ Mason, Jeff (30 January 2012). "Obama says U.S., Georgia exploring free trade pact". Reuters. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ^ "Georgia". Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ^ "Visa Information". Timatic. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- US State Department. 2006-05-12.
- ^ Press Releases, Statements & Transcripts - Embassy of the U.S. in Georgia[permanent dead link]
- ^ Collin, Matthew (March 9, 2007). "Georgia to double troops in Iraq". BBC News. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
- ^ Kramer, Andrew E. (October 9, 2007). "Russia on Its Mind, Georgia Flexes Its Muscle in Iraq". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
- ^ "Peace bid as Ossetia crisis rages". BBC. 2008-08-09. Retrieved 2008-08-09."U.S. takes Georgian troops home from Iraq". Air Force Times. 2008-08-11. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
- ^ Online Magazine - Civil Georgia
- ^ a b Georgian soldiers killed in Afghanistan attack BBC 13 May 2013
- ^ Civil Georgia. "Civil.Ge - Three Georgian Soldiers Wounded in Afghanistan". Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ^ 93 Georgian Soldiers Wounded in Afghanistan in 2010-2012 January 7, 2013
- ^ U.S. training a dual mission for Georgians Stars and Stripes March 7, 2011
- ^ "US forces to deliver Georgia aid". BBC News. 2008-08-13.
- ^ United States – Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership. Civil Georgia. January 9, 2009
- National Archives.
- ^ "Georgia: Tbilisi Uneasily Watches Obama-Medvedev Summit". EurasiaNet.org. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- Gallup
- ^ As Ukraine Crisis Rumbles, Georgian Premier Visits U.S. The New York Times 26 February 2014
- ^ Obama, Barack. (2020). A Promised Land. NY, NY: Crown Publishers.
- ^ "STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN: Public Designations of Mikheil Chinchaladze, Levan Murusidze, Irakli Shengelia, and Valerian Tsertsvadze, Due to Involvement in Significant Corruption". U.S. Embassy in Georgia official website. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ "US sanctions on Georgian judges "unfair", "unacceptable" - Vice Parliament Speaker". Agenda.ge. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-06.