Citing Russian occupation, U.S. signs new defense pact with Georgia

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin signed a new security agreement with Georgia, seeking to buttress relations with the Black Sea nation as it continues to face Russian troops in two of its regions.

Austin and his Georgian counterpart, Juansher Burchuladze, signed a memo in Tbilisi extending an existing Georgia defense cooperation program in the first stop of a three-nation tour of the region meant to reassert the U.S. commitment to their sovereignty “in the face of Russian aggression.”

“I’m honored to join Minister Burchuladze in signing a memorandum of understanding on the Georgia Defense and Deterrence Enhancement Initiative,” Austin said during a signing ceremony. “This initiative marks a new phase of our bilateral security cooperation, and it demonstrates the U.S. commitment to supporting Georgia.”