BRUSSELS — The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Wednesday re-affirmed its support for Georgia, a gesture that coincided with regional tension.

The NATO backing for the country that was part of the defunct Soviet Union came after a meeting that grouped Georgian Prime Minister Trakli Garibashvili and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the alliance headquarters in Brussels.

"Georgia and Ukraine have the right to choose their own alliances, and Russia has no right to dictate that choice," the NATO chief stressed, speaking after the meeting with the Georgian prime minister.

"Any future Russian aggression would come at a high price and have serious political and economic consequences for Russia," warned the NATO chief.

He was re-manifesting worries in decision-making Western quarters due to Russia's troop buildup along the Russian-Ukrainian borders, interpreted as a prelude to possible military attack on Ukraine.

Stoltenberg added that Georgia is one of NATO's closest partners and thanked it for contributing to NATO's efforts in Afghanistan over the years.

On another topic, Garibashvili stressed that membership of NATO is a top priority for his country. "Membership in NATO is a top foreign and security priority of Georgia which is supported by the absolute majority of our people," he told reporters after the meeting.

"We are working closely with the Alliance to elaborate a clear vision for Georgia's eventual integration into NATO. Each and every state has the sovereign right to choose their own foreign policy course," he added. — KUNA