Supporting
Georgia's NATO aspirations, however, is a matter of principle. Last
April in Bucharest, the alliance declared, "[We] welcome Ukraine's and
Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations for membership in NATO." Even while
aiming to reset relations with Russia, President Obama has pledged to
uphold the principle that "countries who seek and aspire to join NATO
are able to join NATO." For NATO's own credibility, Russia cannot be
granted a de facto veto over other countries' aspirations for
membership. Nor should wishful thinking of better relations with Russia
get in the way of Georgia's aspirations, which the United States has
encouraged.