A telephone conversation took place between the Minister of Defense of Georgia and the US Secretary of Defense

A telephone conversation took place between the Minister of Defense of Georgia Juansher Burchuladze and the Secretary of Defense of the United States of America Lloyd Austin. The Defense Ministers discussed current issues and future plans for bilateral strategic cooperation in the field of defense. The Georgian Defense Minister thanked his counterpart for his strong support and stressed the Georgian side's commitment to both bilateral strategic cooperation with the United States and the chosen Euro-Atlantic course. The US Secretary of Defense was also a strong supporter. He noted that cooperation with Georgia as a distinguished and reliable strategic partner is of great importance to the US Department of Defense and expressed readiness for greater engagement and further deepening of the partnership. Emphasis was placed on the joint participation of Georgian and American troops in the "Strong Support Mission" in Afghanistan, noting that "we are not only working together for a better future, but also fighting together for world security."

In a conversation with Lloyd Austin, Juansher Burchuladze stressed the importance of the strong support of the new US administration in the face of threats from Russia. The minister noted that high-level meetings with the United States, joint military exercises and US support in the region are a demonstration of an unwavering strategic partnership. The sides also discussed US-Georgia joint programs, including the Georgian Defense Readiness Program (GDRP). The focus was on long-term security cooperation plans, which clearly define the long-term development priorities of the Georgian Defense Forces in accordance with NATO standards. The Minister also spoke about the US support for the successful implementation of the NATO-Georgia Essential Package and focused on the future prospects of expanding the cooperation area.

At the end of the telephone conversation, the Minister of Defense of Georgia thanked the US Secretary of Defense and expressed hope for an official meeting in the near future.