Georgia’s ruling party Sec Gen: we have asked for NATO membership for 30 years, only general words, no specific steps

Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday criticised NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s latest remarks on enlargement, accusing the Alliance of using countries like Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova for geopolitical speculation while offering nothing specific in return.

Kaladze responded to Rutte’s remarks made to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, in which Rutte said that any country wishing to join NATO can express its desire and then “the process begins”.

In his remarks, the official stated that despite Georgia’s long-standing aspiration to join NATO, no tangible steps have been taken toward granting membership.

“For 30 years we have been asking to join NATO. Regarding this, not only has nothing been done, not even a step is being taken. There are always general explanations, nothing concrete”, he said.

Kaladze further warned that geopolitical actors often use the aspirations of small states like Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine to pursue their own interests.

“Let’s recall the example of Ukraine - they were told that they would join today or tomorrow. Countries like Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine are often used for speculation. They try to advance their own interests, and we must not sacrifice the interests of our country in the process. Just as it happened in 2008, and also with what happened in Ukraine. We must be very cautious so that no one uses the interests of our country for their own benefit”, he concluded.

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday criticised recent comments by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, arguing that the Alliance must stop “pointing fingers” at Georgia and finally make clear decisions about the country’s membership prospects.