GEORGIA-USA/MILITARY DRILLS NATO begins joint military exercises in Georgia

Record ID: 148012

  • Title: GEORGIA-USA/MILITARY DRILLS NATO begins joint military exercises in Georgia
  • Date: 8th July 2015
  • Summary: VAZIANI, GEORGIA (JULY 8, 2015) (REUTERS) NATO SOLDIERS STANDING IN FORMATION, GEORGIAN FLAG RAISED IN BACKGROUND CLOSE OF SOLDIERS SOLDIERS HOLDING FLAGS
  • Embargoed: 23rd July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Georgia
  • Country: Georgia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA2X69LCYP4NIIG9JAZBNBO0QG
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Western NATO alliance states launched joint military training with Georgia in the South Caucasian republic on Wednesday (July 8), a move that is likely to irritate Georgia's former Soviet master Russia.
    The two-week exercises conducted at the Vaziani military base near the capital Tbilisi, which was a Russian air force base until Russian forces withdrew at the start of the last decade under a European arms reduction agreement.
    The joint exercises will focus on testing peacekeeping and support operations.
    Colonel Clifford Weinstein, commanding officer in the 10th marine regiment, said Georgia was a close partner of the alliance.
    "Georgia has been one of our closest partners and also one of the most significant contributors to coalition efforts in the international security assistance force."
    "We are committed to our partners and stand with you in maintaining a Europe that is safe, secure and prosperous," he added.
    Georgia has U.S. backing for its bid to join the Western NATO alliance. But the move is firmly opposed by Russia, which fought a five-day war with Georgia in 2008 and supports separatist authorities in two Georgian breakaway regions: Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
    Georgia's chief of joint military staff, Major General Vakhtang Kapanadze, said the exercises were part of a package that would help Georgia build defence capability and cooperation with NATO.
    "The military exercises in question have already been taking place in Georgia for several years, though this year it is first time under the guidance of NATO and is multinational," Kapanadze told reporters on Wednesday.
    "Raising the exercises into NATO's category proves once more the interest which NATO has towards the development of Georgia's military forces and generally towards the security of Georgia," he added.
    According to NATO the military drills are part of drills aiming to support Georgia's advance toward membership in the alliance.
    Some 220 U.S. troops are set to take part in the drills, soldiers from other member states include Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania.
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