Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili held a meeting with Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, the Government Administration reported on Thursday.

The meeting focused on NATO-Georgia cooperation and the country’s progress toward Euro-Atlantic integration, emphasizing the importance of deeper and stronger cooperation in 2021, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

The conversation revolved around the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package offering new opportunities in relations with the North Atlantic Alliance. The importance of Black Sea security to ensuring overall North Atlantic security and the significance of close NATO-Georgia cooperation were in focus.

The sides also discussed Georgia’s role in protecting common North Atlantic security and the recent decision on the gradual finalization of the Afghanistan mission. According to the Head of Government, Georgian troops will also withdraw from Afghanistan based on a schedule agreed with NATO in coordination with the US partner.

Irakli Garibashvili reiterated that Georgia, as a member of the international community, attaches importance to ensuring that Afghanistan never serves as a haven for terrorists and that the Georgian state is proud of its contribution.