“The prospect – and later, promise - of NATO membership has been a key driver in Georgia’s transformation from failed post-Soviet backwater to pro-western success story. For Obama to claim Georgian NATO membership is off the table at a time when the country faces vast existential threats from Russia not only emboldens Moscow but undermines western influence in the region. “NATO’s collective security guarantee served as a powerful deterrent to the expansionist impulses of the Soviet Union. So too, should it serve as a deterrent to Putin’s Russia of 2014. We must stand with Georgia”. President Obama’s comments have overshadowed his visit to Europe and are likely to raise serious questions about his administration’s ability to deliver a strong united foreign policy.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 17:04:47 +0000