Italian Chief of Defence on first ever visit to Georgia
During his meeting with Georgian Defence Minister, the Italian General spoke of deepening of NATO-Georgia partnership and strengthening of bilateral cooperation between the countries. Photo: Georgian Defence Ministry/Twitter
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The Chief of Defence of Italy Enzo Vecciarelli, who has paid his first ever visit to Georgia, expressed his support to the country’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
First visit ever by an Italian Chief of Defence in Georgia. Further information about Gen. Vecciarelli’s meetings with Georgian authorities is available here ???????? https://t.co/aBPh41pCox https://t.co/5k1cgsGrCx
— Italy in Georgia (@ItalyinGeorgia) September 7, 2021
Following his meeting with Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze, the Italian General spoke about strengthening defence ties with his counterpart, Chief of Georgian Defence Forces, Major General Giorgi Matiashvili.
Together with the Georgian and Italian officials they further discussed bilateral cooperation in the military sector, collaboration between Georgia and NATO, as well as its participation in joint multinational exercises.
MoD is pleased to host CHOD of ???????? General Enzo Vecciarelli. Parties discussed defence transformation process of the GDF, deepening of NATO-GEO partnership and strengthening of bilateral cooperation between the countries. pic.twitter.com/JzpimIyIQx
— MOD Georgia (@ModGovGe) September 7, 2021
Georgia's contribution to international peace and security has been also marked.
Georgia will host the Agile Spirit 2021 multinational exercise next week involving 2,500 troops from 15 NATO allied and partner countries in Georgia between July 26 and August 6. Agile Spirit is a Georgian Defence Forces and US Army Europe and Africa cooperatively-led, joint multinational brigade-level exercise, incorporating a simulated command post exercise, field training, and joint multinational, battalion-level combined arms live-fire exercises.
James Appathurai, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia for the past 10 years, is holding his last meetings in Georgia in the role. He has already met with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and the country’s opposition. Zalkaliani has described Appathurai as ‘a big friend of Georgia, who has done his utmost to make Georgia’s NATO integration progress irreversible.’
One hundred Georgian soldiers from the third infantry brigade have already left Afghanistan and returned to Georgia as the US and NATO have begun withdrawing their troops from the country after two decades of war.
Chief of Georgian Defence Forces Major General Giorgi Matiashvili discussed the country's joint projects with NATO at the alliance's headquarters on Tuesday, with defence chiefs meeting in person in Brussels.