POLOFF DISCUSSES TROOP LEVEL AND DEFENSE SPENDING

UNCLAS TBILISI 001239 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PHUM PREL PGOV GG SUBJECT: POLOFF DISCUSSES TROOP LEVEL AND DEFENSE SPENDING INCREASE WITH MFA ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Poloff met with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Desk Officer for the United States, Irakli Machitidze, Director of Department of International Organizations, Alexander Nalbandov and Head of NATO Division, Tornike Parulava regarding press reports that Georgia is planning to increase their troop numbers by 5000 while also increasing their military spending. Parulava told Poloff that this will not be a sixth brigade, instead, the 5000 troops will be dispersed amongst the current five brigades and Parulava emphasized there are no plans to create a sixth brigade. According to Parulava, the 5000 troops will mainly support the air force and the Ministry of Defense is specifically seeking people with technical backgrounds such as engineers. Nika Rurua, Deputy Chairman for Defense and Security confirmed to the Ambassador that Georgia will not create a sixth brigade. ¶2. (SBU) Parulava informed Poloff that the decision to increase military spending and troop numbers was made quickly because Parliament was dispersing for the summer and a decision was needed immediately. The additional troops will be used to support domestic troop levels including peacekeeping operations. In addition, Georgia is currently reworking their Threat Assessment because it is outdated and no longer accounts for the imminent Russian threat. ¶3. (SBU) Parulava informed Poloff on 16 July that Deputy Defense Minister Muchaidze is currently in Brussels to discuss Georgia's decision with NATO officials though Parulava does not anticipate any problems because Georgia is still under the CFE troop limits. TEFFT