09:49, 3 September 2018

Militaries from ten countries take part in Agile Spirit 2018 exercises in Georgia

The multinational NATO exercises Agile Spirit 2018 with the participation of servicemen from the USA, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Greece, Ukraine, Turkey, the Czech Republic and Estonia have begun on the base of the Second Infantry Brigade of the Georgian Armed Forces in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Agile Spirit 2017 exercises were held in Georgia in September 2017. Political analysts treated their goal as an increase of tensions in Southern Russia.

The Agile Spirit exercises are held in Georgia every year since 2011 within the framework of Georgia's cooperation with the USA and NATO. They are aimed at training of Georgian soldiers to participate in international peacemaking operations.

The exercises will last until September 11, the press service of the Georgia's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has reported.

"The number of countries participating in the exercises is increasing every year," the TASS quotes Levan Izoriya, the head of the MoD, as saying.

The exercises are important for Georgia's cooperation with NATO members and partners, the "Imedi" TV Channel conveys the words of Elizabeth Rudy, the acting US Ambassador to Georgia.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 2, 2018 at 10:45 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.