Georgia in NATO Secretary General’s 2025 Report

2026-03-26 - 14:42

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s 2025 annual report, presented on March 26, states that elements of NATO-Georgia cooperation were “reprioritised” following the 2024 parliamentary elections and “their aftermath.” Rutte separately said during a press conference that NATO sees “serious worries” about Georgia’s democratic trajectory, calling on Tbilisi to return to a “pro-EU, European-forward-looking approach.” The report discusses Georgia in a section concerning the wider South Caucasus region. After the paragraph on Armenia and Azerbaijan, it says, “Allies also reviewed NATO’s engagement with Georgia in light of the 2024 parliamentary elections and their aftermath. As a result, elements of NATO-Georgia cooperation were reprioritised, including some aspects of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package.” “At the same time, defence cooperation with the Georgian Defence Forces progressed, highlighted by the successful NATO-Georgia exercise in May,” it adds. “The NATO Liaison Office in Tbilisi, Georgia continued active engagement with all three partners across the South Caucasus region.” The report describes the South Caucasus as “important” for NATO’s security, “especially as the region continues to feel the impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.” The document highlights regional developments, stating that “in 2025, NATO welcomed meaningful progress towards peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” including the U.S.-brokered August peace agreement, adding that NATO “stands ready to deepen dialogue and cooperation with both countries.” Presenting the report, Secretary General Mark Rutte was asked to comment on how NATO assesses the Georgian Dream government’s recently adopted restrictive legislation and the jailing of some opposition figures. “When it comes to Georgia, obviously, we coordinate closely with the European Union,” Rutte said. “When it comes to the relationship between NATO and Georgia, we think there is merit in keeping that relationship going.” He continued that the Allies “recognize recent developments” in Georgia, and having that in mind, “call upon Georgia to return to the path of a more pro-EU, European-forward-looking approach, including making sure that all the developments, and let’s say the whole trajectory Georgia was on in terms of democracy, rule of law, is continued.” He added that “there are serious worries at the moment.” Also Read: 25/04/2025 – Georgia in NATO Secretary General’s 2024 Annual Report 18/03/2024 – Georgia in NATO Secretary General’s 2023 Annual Report 22/03/2023 – Georgia in NATO Secretary General’s 2022 Annual Report