“Every nation has the right to determine its domestic and foreign policies freely and without external interference. NATO’s collaboration with all three South Caucasus countries is founded on a needs-based principle,” stated Alexander Vinnikov, head of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia, in an interview with Azerbaijani media.

According to Vinnikov, NATO’s involvement is entirely at the request of its partners and is subject to the consensus of its allies.

As the head of the NATO Liaison Office pointed out, the Alliance does not impose itself nor does it coerce cooperation in any way.

“We listen attentively to our partners’ requests for support and, in the spirit of partnership and cooperative security, we endeavour to respond as effectively as possible in areas that meet our partners’ needs and where NATO can add real value. We firmly believe that cooperation with our partners in the South Caucasus makes a meaningful contribution to ensuring security and stability in our shared neighbourhood, and more broadly, across the transatlantic space,” emphasised Alexander Vinnikov.