Caspian Policy Center
  • Search
  • Menu Canvas
    • Home
    • About Us
      • Advisory Board
      • Staff
      • Careers
      • Contact
      • Get Involved
    • Caspian Affairs Magazine
    • Events
      • Upcoming Events
        • Contract of the Century: Building on 25 Years of Success
    • Research
Caspian Policy Center
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Advisory Board
    • Staff
    • Careers
    • Contact
    • Get Involved
  • Caspian Affairs Magazine
  • Research
    • Energy and Economy Program (EEP)
    • Security and Politics Program (SPP)
    • Media Highlights of the Week
  • Events
  • face
  • twiter
  • Youtube

Noble Partnership Multinational Military Exercises in Georgia

Homepage Articles Noble Partnership Multinational Military Exercises in Georgia
Articles, Security and Politics Program (SPP)

Noble Partnership Multinational Military Exercises in Georgia

September 19, 2020
By Nicole Wolkov
1 Comment
321 Views

The Noble Partner 2020 exercises began in Georgia on September 7 and concluded on September 18. Over 2,700 troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Poland, and Georgia are participating in the exercises hosted at the Vaziani Military Airfield and Camp Norio in eastern Georgia. This is the fifth iteration of the Noble Partner exercises held biennially in Georgia. Noble Partner 2020 includes situational training exercises, helicopter attack and medical evacuation operations with rotor-wing aircraft, combined mechanized maneuvers, and live-fire exercises incorporating all participants.  

The U.S. Embassy in Georgia stated that the exercises were modified with coordination from the Georgian Ministry of Defense to ensure the safety of participants due to COVID-19. Other pandemic-related measures were taken such as requiring all participants to undergo COVID-19 testing and a 14-day quarantine. According to the U.S. Embassy in Georgia, the objective of Noble Partner 2020 is to “enhance regional partnerships and increase U.S. force readiness and interoperability in a realistic, multinational training environment.” The continuation of such multinational exercises “demonstrate that NATO allies and partners stand stronger together with U.S. commitment to stability and security in the region.”  

Georgia sees the multinational U.S.-Georgian led military exercises as an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to its partnership with the United States and NATO. Georgian Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani emphasized the importance of the exercises against the background of hybrid threats, and expressed hope that creating a NATO-compatible defense force and continuing close cooperation with Georgian partners would bring Georgia closer to Alliance membership. President of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia emphasized the integral role that Noble Partner plays in Georgian Euro-Atlantic integration, and Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Gharibashvili said the exercise is “clear proof that military cooperation between Georgia and the United States has never been as strong as it is today.” U.S.-Georgian relations remain strong; the United States has invested over $4 billion in the development of Georgia since its independence and regularly holds joint exercises.  

In recent years, Georgia has made changes to its military in order to adhere more closely to Western standards. In 2017, the length of military service was cut from 15 months to 12 months. Conscripts would undergo three months of combat training and then spend the remaining nine months in “support the professional army.” In June 2020, the Georgian Ministry of Defense announced that it would be replacing old hardware used by the Georgian Defense Force with NATO-standard hardware.  In particular, the Ministry announced that it was aiming to equip all regular units with American designed M4 rifles which are used by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. Similarly, outdated trucks were replaced by trucks made by the German company MAN, the Italian company IVECO, and the U.S. company Ford; all of which supply NATO states. Georgian military reforms and materiel modernization demonstrate Georgia’s readiness to work with NATO and its partners and its willingness to take the steps needed for NATO to consider membership.  

Article by Caspian Policy Center Nicole Wolkov


Previous Story
Russia Promotes Instability in the South Caucasus through Armenian Arms Transfers
Next Story
The Greater Caspian Region’s Transition to Online Learning Underscores the Need to Expand Internet Access

Related Articles

Uncertainty Over Security Mounts as Kyrgyz Citizens Head to the Polls

After three months of protests following Kyrgyz parliamentary elections tainted...

Tajikistan Strengthens Border as Afghan and Tajik Officials Meet to Discuss Regional Support for Peace Talks

Tajikistan recently deployed additional troops to its southern border with Afghanistan. This...

Popular Posts

  • Trans Adriatic Pipeline Completion Is a Milestone for Caspian-European Integration Wednesday, 21, Oct
  • Six Recommendations for the Biden Administration’s Caspian Policy Monday, 9, Nov
  • The Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Deal: Reading Between the Lines Monday, 16, Nov
  • Media Highlights of the Week Monday, 14, Dec
  • Media Highlights of the Week Tuesday, 22, Dec

Twitter Accounts

Efgan Nifti    Follow @enifti

Caspian Policy Center logo

Sign up to our newsletter and follow us on social media

Caspian Policy Center - Copyright 2019.
Caspian Policy Center - Copyright 2019
SearchPostsLogin
Thursday, 14, Jan
What’s Next for Azerbaijan’s Natural Gas Exports to Europe
Tuesday, 12, Jan
Media Highlights of the Week
Monday, 11, Jan
United States, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan Launch New Investment Initiative
Friday, 8, Jan
Uncertainty Over Security Mounts as Kyrgyz Citizens Head to the Polls
Tuesday, 5, Jan
Georgia in Talks with Czech Republic, Israel, and Poland for Joint Defense Production
Monday, 4, Jan
Media Highlights of the Week

Welcome back,