Defence Minister Levan Izoria on visit to US Army training venue, Ukraine Independence Day

The Minister of Defence of Georgia Levan Izoria will be joining two of Georgia’s defence partners during the week, with a United States training venue and Ukraine’s capital the two destinations for the official visit.

Izoria departed to the United States Army’s Joint Multinational Readiness Centre in Hohenfels, Germany earlier today.

The Georgian official is due to be received by Major General Russell Sanborn, Commander of Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa, and Brigadier General Christopher LaNeve, Commanding General of US Army’s 7th Army Training Command.

They will brief the minister about preparations of Georgian Armed Forces’ 2nd Infantry Brigade, 22nd Battalion at the JRMC.

Undergoing drills under supervision of American and Georgian instructors, the battalion is being prepared for deployment to the NATO’s Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan.

The JMRC venue has served as preparation ground for training Georgian units for the peacekeeping mission, to which the battalions deploy on rotational basis.

While in Germany, Izoria will also attend drills of the 22nd Battalion in the training area.

Departing the US Army training complex, the minister will then travel to attend the Independence Day celebrations in Ukraine on August 24.

In capital Kiev, Izoria will be among officials hosted as distinguished visitors for a parade on Freedom Square.

A formation of flag-bearers from the National Guard of Georgia will appear among units and groups parading through the square to mark the occasion.