The NATO flag. Photo: Inquam Photos / Eduard Vînătoru
Georgia hosted Major Multinational Multinational Exercises on Friday with NATO troops, despite the fact that his government is increasingly accused of moving away from the pro-Western path and approaching Russia's orbit, AFP reports.
The request for accession to NATO of the Caucasian nation is consecrated in the Constitution and has received the alliance support in 2008, but in recent years the country's democratic regress has been increasingly in conflict with the West.
The exercise, carried out near the capital Tbilisi, is part of a larger series of common exercises that take place between July 21 and August 8 in Georgia and Turkey, the Gruzin Ministry of Defense announced in a statement.
Over 2,000 troops from 10 countries
The “agile spirit” biennial event gathers over 2,000 soldiers from ten countries, including over 800 American soldiers, as well as soldiers from Turkey, Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Lithuania, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.
The exercise started with a common air operation near Adana, Turkey, where American paratroopers jumped with local troops, according to the US Army Command for Europe and Africa.
In the statement it is mentioned that the exercise “emphasizes the US commitment to security and stability in the Black Sea region and highlights the importance of strong alliances and partnerships in approaching common security challenges.”
In Georgia, the exercises will include field training, exercises with real shootings, an operation at the command post with the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian brigade and forces for special operations.
Despite the statement from the NATO summit held in Bucharest in 2008, according to which Georgia will one day enter the Alliance, the country has not yet been placed on a formal way to accession.
Shortly after the summit, Georgia was invaded by neighboring Russia, which still occupies about 20% of its territory.
