How will Georgian defence agencies be funded in 2022?

In order to ensure the consistent and continuous development of the Georgian army, a higher defence budget has been outlined for the coming year.

The parliamentary committee on defence and security discussed the 2022 state budget today.

The 2022 budget to be distributed among defence agencies is as follows:

• Ministry of Defence - 918 million GEL (900 million GEL in 2021)
• Ministry of Internal Affairs - 800 million GEL (790 million GEL in 2021)
• State Security Service - 140 million GEL
• Special State Protection Service - 61 million GEL
• Intelligence Department - 14.5 million GEL
• State Service for Veterans Affairs - 8.3 million GEL
• National Security Council - 3.2 million GEL

In July, Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze presented a 10-year development plan for the Georgian armed forces, which covers five priorities: anti-armour, airborne, artillery, reconnaissance and engineering capabilities.

The 10-year plan includes:

• Purchase of an additional batch of Javelin anti-tank missiles from the United States in 2021
• Start of production of small and large unmanned aerial vehicles on the base of Georgia's State Military Scientific Technical Centre Delta in 2022 - negotiations underway to set up a joint venture with South African and Polish companies
• Develop artillery capabilities intensively from 2024; plan includes the development of Georgian-made mortars, as well as the purchase of foreign-made artillery units
• Enhance engineering capabilities in 2022-2027 in order to develop mobility and countermeasures
• Complete renovation of the Vaziani, Senaki, Krtsanisi, Kutaisi, and Gori cadet corps and artillery bases
• Complete construction of residential blocks on Makhata Mount in the capital city of Tbilisi by the end of 2022, and present flats to 1,050 servicemen
• Create legislation under which the state shall provide flats to all high-ranking military staff and a guaranteed increase in salary

Overall, the 2022 state budget of Georgia has been planned with a forecast of 6% economic growth, the Ministry of Finance of Georgia announced.