US Deputy Assistant Secretary of War Loomis visits Georgia for defence talks

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Andrew Loomis has met Georgia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Irakli Chikovani in Tbilisi to discuss bilateral defence cooperation and regional security.

The talks covered current cooperation between Georgia and the United States and prospects for further cooperation, the ministry press office said.

The sides also discussed the security environment and challenges in the region, the long-standing contribution of Georgian and US military personnel to international missions, joint military exercises and other defence programmes.

Loomis also met First Deputy Defence Minister Paata Patiashvili and Deputy Commander of the Georgian Defence Forces Major General Irakli Chichinadze.

The US delegation included US Chargé d'Affaires in Georgia Courtney Ostrian and US Defence Attaché Colonel Jonathan Adams.