07 September 2017, 19:42
Georgian experts: NATO exercises to strengthen Georgia's defence capability
The Agile Spirit 2017 military exercises improve the coordination of the armies of Georgia and NATO and strengthen the Georgia's defence capability. This opinion was expressed by Georgian experts.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 3, the multinational NATO military exercises entitled the Agile Spirit 2017 were started at the Orfolo training ground in the Samtskhe-Javakheti Region. The military exercises involve 1515 soldiers from Georgia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Latvia, Romania, the USA and Ukraine. Soldiers and officers are practicing the operations of attack and defence.
According to Irakli Aladashvili, the editor of the military magazine "Arsenali", the NATO military exercises held in Georgia twice a year are important for the country, since it seeks to join NATO.
Vakhtang Maisaya, Doctor of Military-Political Sciences, believes that the NATO military exercises are not directed against Russia and any other countries.
The Agile Spirit 2017 military exercises are directed against Russia and contribute to tension in the south of the country. This opinion was voiced by Russian experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".
The military exercises are not directly related to Russia, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia. They are carried out because of the growing importance of the Georgia's security related to the world economy and the development of the Black Sea coast of the country, where a of large port for transportation is under construction, believes Giorgi Tevzadze, Professor from the Ilia Chavchavadze State University.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
Author: Inna Kukudzhanova Source: CK correspondent