DISINFO: The US is using Georgia to fight Russia
SUMMARY
The US is using Georgia to fight Russia and maintaining tensions in the country.
Today it is already clear to everyone that the director of this theater is precisely the United States of America! It is also clear to everyone that the endless NATO exercises in Georgia are nothing more than a challenge to Russia.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the US, NATO and its military exercises, A recurrent, unfounded claim on the US "controlling" other countries and using them against Russia. There are almost 250 similar claims in the EUvsDisinfo database. Pro-Kremlin outlets claim many countries, not under Moscow's control, became Western puppets. The message aims to promote nihilism towards the West.
In 2009 the US and Georgia signed a US-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership, which advances bilateral cooperation on priority areas, such as defence and security; economic, trade, and energy issues; people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Read more about US-Georgia relations here. Both the EU and US firmly support Georgia's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
In 2019, the US Congress also passed the Georgia Support Act, a bipartisan bill that authorises sanctions against individuals involved in human rights violations in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. For a detailed overview of the US-Georgian strategic partnership, see here.
Agile Spirit joint military exercises started in 2001 under a different name and were celebrated on a biennial basis since then, so they cannot be considered a source of increased tension. The purpose of the exercises is to enhance interoperability among the forces of NATO member and partner countries. Agile Spirit 2021 promotes regional stability and security, as well as strengthening the capabilities of Alliance members and partner countries to react to regional crises and challenges more effectively. That is why the main message of the Agile Spirit 2021 is - “Strength through Partnership”.
Georgia’s desire to join NATO is caused by Moscow’s aggression against the country subsequently occupying Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. However, the US or NATO do not intend to use Georgia or any other state against Russia.
See similar cases claiming that the US and the EU govern Georgia, that strong Georgia is not in the interest of the West, that Georgia is a US colony or that the death of Georgia's statehood and Georgians as a nation is a matter of time.