Russia Says US Military Support Encourages Tbilisi to “Dangerous Adventures “

Russia has emphasized that Georgia’s deepening of military cooperation with NATO countries, especially with the United States, is “dangerous.”

The statement was made by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Grigory Karasin at the meeting with the co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions on Security and Stability in the South Caucasus – UN representative Antti Turunen, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus Gunter Behler, and EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar.

During the meeting, the Russian side said that the Department of State and the Pentagon have recently approved the supply to Georgia of Javelin anti-tank missile systems, adding this is the first US-Georgian military deal on such a scale since 2008 Russia-Georgia war.

Karasin also stressed that instead of training Georgian peacemakers Washington will now be training regular combat units. Washington is also planning to help Tbilisi build another combat training center in Georgia.

“Russia believes this outside military support is directly encouraging Tbilisi to new dangerous adventures in the region,” Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.

By Thea Morrison

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