Georgia started hosting the two-week war games with more than 3,000 troops from 13 countries — including the US, France, Germany, the UK, and Turkey — at the Vasiani and Camp Norio training centers near the capital, Tbilisi.
“The scenario of the combined multinational exercise includes command and field training with live fire, engagement of maneuver and combat support elements in defensive and offensive operation,” Georgia’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The drills are “yet another proof of the growing support which Georgia has from its strategic partners, NATO’s member states,” it added.
This year marks the fourth time Georgia has hosted the drills — known as the Noble Partner exercises — and comes just a few days before the 10th anniversary of its war with Russia.
Russian officials have yet to comment on the drills, but in previous years, Moscow had warned that the war games could destabilize the region, a charge denied by Georgian officials.
In recent years, NATO has staged multiple war games near Russia’s western borders, arguing that it intends to protect its members in Eastern Europe against the so-called “Russia threat.” Moscow dismisses the allegations that it poses a threat to regional countries and says the US-led bloc is creating Russophobia.
