NATO Ex-Deputy Sec-Gen on Creating New, Associate Member Status for Georgia

The former deputy Secretary General of NATO and ex US Ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow says that the creation of a new status for Georgia and Ukraine may push forward the countries’ NATO membership. 

“We must resist Russian aggression in all areas by strengthening NATO. To protect ourselves from political interference and to create cybersecurity, we must help Ukraine, Georgia and now Belarus to protect their sovereignty,” he said at an event organized by the Atlantic Council, Voice of America (VOA) reports.

Based on the same source, Vershbow discussed the need to increase spending to fight Russia’s aggressive behavior.

Vershbow emphasized that creating a new status, such as associate membership for Ukraine and Georgia to join NATO, might be appropriate.

“We promised that Ukraine and Georgia would become members of NATO, but we did not consider how we could achieve this. It may be possible to create some new, associate member status for them,” he stated.

By Ana Dumbadze 

Source: VOA