Washington. October 17th. INTERFAX - The head of the US Defense Department, Lloyd Austin, during a visit to Georgia and Ukraine next week, will call on these countries to carry out the transformations necessary to qualify for NATO membership, the Pentagon reports.
"Austin in Georgia and Ukraine will emphasize that the door to NATO is open, and will call on these countries to make the necessary changes to qualify for membership in the defense alliance," the message published on the website of the US Department of Defense says.
As reported, after Ukraine and Georgia, Austin will visit Romania and Belgium. In Brussels, the Pentagon chief will hold a meeting with NATO defense ministers. According to the Pentagon, Russia is expected to be discussed at this meeting, as well as problems from China.
Earlier, the Pentagon reported that Austin is going on a trip to Europe this weekend. In Georgia, he will meet with the country's Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Defense Minister Dzhuansher Burchuladze, and in Ukraine - with President Vladimir Zelensky and Defense Minister Andrei Taran.
