NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says he harbors no illusions about the current developments in Georgia, noting that the Alliance is “very concerned” and has conveyed this message directly to Tbilisi. Rutte made the remarks in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Asked whether Georgia remains an aspirant for NATO membership, Rutte reaffirmed the Alliance’s open-door policy: “Any country in the Euro-Atlantic area that seeks NATO membership can express that desire, and then the process begins.”
However, he stressed that the situation in Georgia is troubling.
“Of course, I am not naive about what is happening in Georgia. We are very concerned. We have made this very clear to the Georgians. We continue to cooperate with them, and I believe that cooperation provides a channel through which we can express our concerns directly,” he said.
Rutte also urged a broader regional perspective when assessing Georgia’s trajectory, highlighting developments across the South Caucasus.
“Let’s look at this more holistically. Georgia is one part of the picture, but we also see what is happening between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which is now in a much better state thanks to the efforts President Trump is undertaking. Therefore, Georgia should be viewed within the wider context of the entire South Caucasus,” Rutte stated.
