The US and Georgia have signed an accord to strengthen their bilateral defense, trade and energy ties, a move that could exasperate Russia.

The deal would strengthen Georgia's budding democratic institutions, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said at a signing ceremony in Washington on Friday.

The Charter on Strategic Partnership resembles a strategic agreement the US signed last month with Ukraine and is expected to fuel tensions with Russia, which is worried about Western encroachment on former Soviet territory.

Before signing the document with her Georgian counterpart Grigol Vashadze, Rice reiterated strong US support for Georgia's membership NATO in the future.

NATO member states agreed last month to enhance their ties with Georgia and Ukraine but the two countries were not given the status of official candidates to join the alliance.

"This is the stepping stone which will bring Georgia to Euro-Atlantic structures, to membership within NATO, and to return to family of Western and civilized nations," AFP quoted Vashadze as saying in the ceremony.

MGH/HAR