TBILISI: The United States backs Georgia's bid to join NATO but wants to see "much more" progress on democracy, visiting Vice-President Joe Biden said in Tbilisi yesterday.

In an address to the parliament in the ex-Soviet republic, Biden said the administration of President Barack Obama backs Georgia's aspiration to join the Atlantic alliance, a cause of friction with Russia in recent years.

"We understand that Georgia aspires to join NATO," Biden said, adding: "We fully support that aspiration."