But it embedded a clear message: Georgia is making promising headway toward mature democracy, yet at a measured pace. But to opponents including Germany and France, Georgia has clearly become as much of a headache as a valuable military partner. Yet all inevitably come down to serious military risks which Georgia may carry along with integration in the alliance. Simply put, the Caucasus—predominantly a mountainous region where Georgia is located—has traditionally been a hotbed of numerous ethnic conflicts and potential flashpoints. Incursion into Georgian territory gained Russia enormous land, naval and air superiority in the region.

Source: Forbes November 23, 2016 16:31 UTC