Defence Ministry: Claims on Georgia’s non-participation in multinational exercise Defender 2023 “another provocation” towards ministry
The Georgian Defence Forces have been “constantly” participating in, as well as hosting, international drills to increase combat capabilities, including annual, Georgia-US joint, large-scale multinational exercises - Noble Partner, Agile Spirit, the Ministry stressed. Photo via Defence Ministry
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The Georgian Defence Ministry on Tuesday issued a statement regarding the question of participation of the country’s Defence Forces in the multinational exercise Defender 2023 and said the “biassed” information spread by some media outlets and individuals was “another provocation” towards the Ministry.
The Ministry has responded to claims by Teona Akubardia, an MP from the opposition Lelo party, who earlier during the day said the Georgian Defence Forces’ non-involvement in NATO exercises was a “gift to the Kremlin and damaging to our defence capabilities”.
Based on the goals and objectives of the Defence Forces, through active communication with our main strategic partner [the US] and by their recommendation, it was decided to direct more efforts and resources at international and local exercises more oriented to increasing combat readiness and mutual compatibility with NATO members and partner countries, sharing experience and improving professional skills", the state body noted, explaining the non-participation of Georgia in the drills organised by the US European Command.
The Georgian Defence Forces have been “constantly” participating in, as well as hosting, international drills to increase combat capabilities, including annual, Georgia-US joint, large-scale multinational exercises - Noble Partner, Agile Spirit, the Ministry stressed.
The statement also highlighted other drills, including Winter in Turkey, Dynamic Front in Germany, Slovak Shield in Slovakia and Steadfast Cobalt in the Netherlands, in which Georgia had participated with NATO member and partner countries.
The Ministry also emphasised the upcoming drills - Eurasian Peace in Turkey, Spring Storm in Estonia, CWIX in Poland and Immediate Response in Bulgaria, as well as Saber Guardian in Romania, Sea Breeze in England, Saber Junction and Combined Resolve in Germany. The Georgian Defence Forces will also host Maple Arch drills in the country and will participate in Azerbaijan’s Caucasian Eagle and Eternity drills, as well as in Italy’s Steadfast Jackal.
Irakli Beraia, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Defence and Security Committee, on Tuesday called “anti-state, misinforming and shameful” the claim by Teona Akubardia, an MP from the opposition Lelo party, who earlier during the day said the Georgian Defence Forces’ non-involvement in NATO exercises was a “gift to the Kremlin and damaging to our defence capabilities”.
Julianne Smith, the United States Ambassador to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, hailed Georgia’s “excellent and very close” relationship with the alliance and highlighted the country as NATO’s one of the “closest partners”, in an interview with Imedi TV on Friday.
Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, on Tuesday described Georgia as “one of closest partners” of the alliance and pledged “continued political and practical support” for the country.
This year’s Noble Partner multinational defence drills officially opened at the 4th Infantry Brigade training grounds in Vaziani near Tbilisi on Monday, with over 2,400 servicemembers from 21 countries involved in the manoeuvres.
The United States Embassy in Georgia on Wednesday issued a statement on military cooperation between the two states in 2023 and stressed US-Georgia continued “to do more across a broad range of cooperative military activities”.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Friday rejected the criticism by the domestic opposition about the absence of the Georgian Defence Forces from an ongoing NATO exercise by highlighting the “record number” of six international manoeuvres involving the GDF in 2022 and about 20 set to feature troops from the country this year.