US-Georgia joint military exercise Noble Partner begins

Hundreds of Georgian and United States (US) soldiers are taking part in a joint military exercise, being held for the first time on Georgian soil.

Several militaries from the NATO Rapid Reaction Force are participating in the US-Georgia Noble Partner joint drills.

The Noble Partner exercises officially started today at the Vaziani military air field in eastern Georgia. It is the first time exercises of this nature are being carried out in Georgia. The training will continue until May 25.

The US Army noted the Noble Partner exercise was a bilateral effort that focused on enhancing US and Georgian NATO Response Force interoperability in the context of military-to-military relationships.

About 600 Georgian and US military personnel will participate in the Noble Partner exercise. 

Georgia’s newly appointed Defence Minister Tinatin Khidasheli and Chief of General Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces (GAF), Major-General Vakhtang Kapanadze attended a rehearsal of the opening ceremony at the military base earlier today.

Georgian Armed Forces' (GAF) Major-General Vakhtang Kapanadze salutes to US serviceman. 

About 600 Georgian and US military personnel will participate in the Noble Partner exercise. The Georgian side is represented by Alpha Company of the 12th Battalion of I Infantry Brigade, I Mechanized Company of the 42nd Battalion of IV Mechanized Brigade and by the Military Police Platoon.

The US side provided a full range of equipment for the training, including 14 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles and several wheeled-support vehicles for the Noble Partner exercises. The military equipment travelled from Varna, Bulgaria, over the Black Sea to Batumi, where it was then transported to the Vaziani military base for the exercises.

Meanwhile the opening ceremony of the Noble Partner joint exercise will be held later today. Georgian martial art group Khridoli will perform at the event.