https://harici.com.tr/gurcistanin-ab-entegrasyon-sureci-askiya-alindi/
Georgia's EU integration process suspended
Pawel Herczynski, the European Union's (EU) Ambassador to Georgia, claimed that the current discourse of the Georgian authorities, which adopted the law on transparency of foreign influence, was anti-Western and anti-European.
According to the Reuters agency, Herczynski announced that the country's EU integration process has been suspended, arguing that such discourses are 'completely incompatible with the goal of EU membership', according to Reuters.
Herczynski said, "Unfortunately, Georgia's European Union membership has been suspended for now. This is a really sad situation,” he said.
Union leaders are not clear 'on the intentions of current Georgian officials', according to the ambassador.
The Transparency of Foreign Infect Act was approved in the final reading in the Georgian Parliament on May 14. The decision was taken despite the rallies attended by thousands of people in the country and the veto of President Salome Zurabishvili.
Brussels freezes 30 million euros allocated to Georgia
In addition, EU leaders have also decided to freeze 30 million euros to be sent to the country to strengthen Georgia's defense capacity.
“Speaking about defense and security cooperation, unfortunately I have to report that EU leaders have decided to freeze the money allocated to support the Georgian defense forces within the framework of the European Peace Fund,” Herczynski said.
Some EU member states announced to the public that if the law on foreign agents was adopted, they would oppose the start of membership negotiations with the country.
Next week, the EU will begin working on retaliatory measures against Tbilisi due to the foreign agency law.
US postpones joint exercises with Georgia
The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) reported that the Noble Partner joint exercise, which was planned to be held in the summer of 2024 last week, was postponed indefinitely due to a review of strategic relations.
The ministry cited the reason for the decision to postpone the exercise, the Georgian officials claimed that the US and the West were trying to open a 'second front' to increase pressure on Russia in relation to the situation in Ukraine.
The Georgian Ministry of Defense, on the other hand, expressed its regret for the postponement of the exercises with the USA. The ministry stated that the exercises benefited both countries.
In the written statement made by the ministry, it was said, 'We regret the statement of the US Department of Defense regarding the indefinite postponement of the multinational Noble Partner-2024 exercise.' In the statement, it was emphasized that the exercises benefited both Georgia and the USA.
The two countries are also continuing their preparations for the Agile Spirit-2025 exercise. The Pentagon also stated that preparations were made for next year's exercise.
Washington reviews all collaboration programs with Tbilisi
At the same time, Michael Carpenter, senior director of the White House National Security Council for European affairs, reported that the Washington administration is beginning to review all cooperation programs with Tbilisi.
Carpenter, at a press conference yesterday, said, “We hope that we will witness a change in the strategic route followed by the Georgian government. But at the moment, all of our [co-operation] programs with Georgia have been reviewed,” he said.