Hagel called the package of measures from the NATO summit a "significant victory" for Georgia. It includes plans to build a military training center in Georgia, enhanced intelligence sharing and more joint exercises, a U.S. official said.
The United States and Georgia also discussed steps toward the sale of Blackhawk helicopters to Tbilisi, and Hagel renewed U.S. pledges to support Georgia's bid for NATO membership.
"The eventual membership for Georgia in NATO is something that we're committed to and the process to get there is important," Hagel said before visiting Georgian and U.S. forces at a military training center outside Tbilisi.
Helicopters are nice. Training is vital. And NATO membership is a long-term project.
But our reassurances would mean more if we provided lots of anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons to Georgia, too.
