The foreign ministers of NATO countries at a meeting on Wednesday, discussing security issues in the Black Sea region, expressed their intention to deepen cooperation with Georgia and Ukraine in this regard.
A PolitNavigator correspondent reports this, Kommersant writes.
It is noted that Moscow’s concerns may be caused by the prospect of Kiev receiving a NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP), a program to support countries that intend to join the alliance. Completing the plan essentially represents the next step towards membership, although it does not guarantee it. At the same time, Ukraine has enshrined its course towards full membership in NATO in its constitution, and the task of obtaining a MAP is enshrined in the recently adopted national security strategy of Ukraine.
“This year, Kyiv has already received the status of a NATO Enhanced Capabilities Partner, but the likelihood of receiving the MAP is still very vague - no public statements in this regard were made during the concluded ministerial meeting,” the publication writes.
At the same time, it is indicated that Georgia has a much greater chance of joining NATO. Thus, following the meeting, Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO has a “clear message” to Georgia, which is to demonstrate “strong political support.”
Stoltenberg announced Georgia’s preparation for NATO membership on September 29 at a meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia in Brussels.
“Earlier this year, the allies agreed to further strengthen our partnership, including mutual sharing of more radar data, cooperation to counter hybrid threats, and joint exercises in the Black Sea. And I encourage you to take full advantage of these opportunities to move closer to NATO and also to prepare for membership,” said the NATO Secretary General.
“In addition, on the NATO website in the section that describes relations with Georgia, in October an additional mention appeared that the country was already preparing for membership “through the development and successful implementation of annual national programs.” There are no such references in the similar section on Ukraine. The issue of Georgia receiving the MAP may be considered at the NATO summit in 2021,” the newspaper summarizes.
It is noteworthy that the NATO charter contains a clause that does not allow membership to countries with unresolved territorial disputes.
As PolitNavigator previously reported, NATO Secretary General announced The Black Sea is a strategically important region for itself and demanded the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Transnistria.