On Monday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin offered further support for Georgia's military, condemning what he called "Russia's occupation" of Georgian territories and attempts to exert greater influence in the Black Sea region.

Austin signed a memorandum of understanding with his Georgian counterpart, Juansher Burchuladze, for a new military cooperation and training program during his first stop on a trip of three NATO-allied countries on the Black Sea coast.

I’m honored to join Minister Burchuladze in signing a Memorandum of Understanding on the Georgia Defense and Deterrence Enhancement Initiative. This initiative marks a new phase of our bilateral security cooperation, and it demonstrates the U.S. commitment to supporting Georgia. pic.twitter.com/LSlOts33gw

— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) October 18, 2021

The US Defense Secretary told Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili that "The US condemns Russia's ongoing occupation of Georgia and its attempts to expand influence in the Black Sea region through military coercion and malign activities." The training program, he said, would allegedly assist the country to defend its borders.

"This is an important region and security and stability are crucial to fully realizing the vision that we share of a Europe that is whole and free and at peace," Austin noted.

Austin: Georgia was an important part of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars

The US Defense Secretary referred to Georgia's "contributions" to the US-led coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, praising them. 

"Georgia has paid a heavy price," Austin remarked in a joint press conference with Burchuladze, referring to the 32 Georgians killed in Afghanistan. "The US honors their sacrifice."

Austin asserted that the previously mentioned two wars "do not define" the bilateral military relationship between the two countries and that Washington wanted to help Tbilisi better defend itself.

Burchuladze: Georgia hopes to join NATO in the future

For his part, the Georgian Defense Minister told reporters that Georgia still hopes that its cooperation with the US will put it on the path of full membership in NATO, an old aspiration for the country.

Austin did not comment. 

Burchuladze stated: "We've signed a critically important document which brings us to a new stage of cooperation with the US. It provides for bolstering Georgia's defense capabilities and a highest level of deterrence and compatibility with NATO standards."

After Georgia, Austin will travel to Ukraine, which is also seeking full NATO membership despite an ongoing conflict in the Donbas region. Then he will proceed to Romania, which is already a NATO member.