Georgian Defense Forces Chief, US Army Europe Deputy Commanding General discuss cooperation, GDF transformation
Matiashvili and Gerrard expressed their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict. Photo: Ministry of Defence.
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The cooperation between armed services of the United States and Georgia, and the ongoing transformation of the Georgian Defence Forces were discussed in a meeting between Major General Giorgi Matiashvili, the Chief of the GDF, and Major General Joseph Gerrard, the Deputy Commanding General of US Army Europe and Africa on Thursday.
In the meeting, the Georgian commander thanked his American colleague for “political and practical support”, as well as “personal contribution” to the development of the Georgian National Guard, the Ministry of Defence said.
Matiashvili briefed Gerrard on the ongoing GDF reforms and projects implemented with the involvement and support of the US Army to increase the country’s defence capabilities.
The GDF Chief also expressed hope for the continuation of the “growing dynamics of cooperation” between the partnering forces.
The sides also reviewed security challenges in the Black Sea region and around the world and condemned Russian military aggression against Ukraine.
Matiashvili and Gerrard expressed their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict.
United States Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin sat down with Minister of Defence of Georgia Juansher Burchuladze in one of the few meetings the American official held at the NATO ministerial in Brussels on Thursday, with the discussion covering questions of strategic cooperation between the partnering countries.
NATO’s “enhanced involvement” in the Black Sea region amid growing security challenges, and reforms being undertaken in Georgia's defence sector were on the agenda as Georgian defence minister Juansher Burchuladze met NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels earlier today.
Georgian and American airborne troops deployed in "scale not seen before" at the ongoing Agile Spirit multinational drills in Georgia on Sunday, with defence minister Juansher Burchuladze praising the first-ever occasion at the anniversary edition of the exercise.
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.
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili announced plans to establish a “modern” base for training special operations forces in the country, along with a cadet school in Tbilisi, in a weekly meeting of the Government on Monday.
Major General Michael Wickman, the newly appointed Deputy Commander of the US Army in Europe and Africa, and Major General Giorgi Matiashvili, the Chief of the Georgian Defence Forces, on Thursday discussed the “fruitful cooperation” between the Georgian Defence Forces and the US Army’s regional command, the Georgian Defence Ministry said on Thursday.
Georgian-Romanian defence cooperation and future relations were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between the Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze and General Daniel Petrescu, the Romanian Chief of Defence, the Georgian Defence Ministry said.
The 11th Agile Spirit multinational exercise in Georgia launched on Wednesday with airborne demonstration training at Vaziani military base.