On April 24, the University of Georgia welcomed Alexander Vinnikov, Head of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia, for a public lecture on NATO-Georgia relations. The lecture was attended by students and academic staff and provided valuable insights into the relationship between NATO and Georgia, including their ongoing cooperation in areas such as defense and security, as well as future prospects for enhanced cooperation.

The lecture was followed by a lively discussion that touched on a variety of issues, including Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations, NATO's Open Door policy and upcoming Vilnius Summit, Russian aggression against Georgia and Ukraine, disinformation, and other hybrid threats, as well as Georgia's European and Euro-Atlantic reform agenda. The discussion allowed students and academic staff to engage directly with Vinnikov and gain a deeper understanding of the issues facing Georgia and its relationship with NATO.

During his visit, Vinnikov also had a tour of the university and met with the rector, Konstantine Topuria, to discuss future plans. The University of Georgia was honored to receive Vinnikov and appreciated the opportunity for dialogue and exchange of ideas with such a distinguished guest.

The University of Georgia takes pride in providing a platform for dialogue and exchange of ideas with experts from various fields, and this visit by Alexander Vinnikov was no exception. We are grateful to him for sharing his expertise and look forward to continued collaboration with the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia.