Latest news with #AgileSpirit
JAMnews
3 days ago
- Politics
- JAMnews
Georgia is hosting the multinational Resistant Spirit 2025 drills together with the United States
Joint U.S.-Georgia military exercises in Georgia From July 25 to August 6, Georgia is hosting the multinational military exercise Resistant Spirit 2025. The drills are organized by the United States European Command, which oversees U.S. forces in Europe and Africa. In addition to Georgia and the U.S., this year's participants include Bulgaria, Germany, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Turkey, and Ukraine. Notably, President Mikheil Kavelashvili and Defense Minister Irakli Chikovani, both from the Georgian Dream party, did not attend the opening of the exercises. Such drills have not been held in Georgia since 2023. Resistant Spirit 2025 highlights the United States' commitment to security and stability in the Black Sea region, as well as the importance of strong alliances and partnerships in addressing shared security challenges. 'On July 21, 2025, U.S. Army paratroopers from the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade conducted a joint airborne operation with approximately 100 Turkish paratroopers in Turkey. Following the operation, the troops relocated to Georgia to take part in multinational exercises, including live-fire drills,' reads a statement from the U.S. Army Europe and Africa website. Commentary Giorgi Tavdgiridze, colonel and military expert: ''Georgia is hosting the multinational Agile Spirit military exercises for the twelfth time. The official opening took place at the NATO–Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC) in Krtsanisi district in Tbilisi. Addressing the troops were First Deputy Defense Minister Paata Patiashvili, Deputy Chief of the Defense Forces Irakli Chichinadze, and Brigadier General Terry Tillis, commander of the U.S. 7th Army in Europe and Africa. Notably, Defense Minister Irakli Chikovani of the Georgian Dream party did not attend the event. The silence from the commander of the defense forces and the chief of the general staff also remains unexplained. Russian bloggers are furious – they see NATO's return to Georgia as a painful blow, while Georgian Dream appears powerless to stop it. And the party's weakness is perceived as a devastating humiliation. No matter how often Georgian Dream claims it's not their fault, in Russia's eyes, they've lost significant ground. 'Georgian Dream is weak, but it is propped up by our patience and fear.' News from Georgia
Euronews
5 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Georgia hosts NATO military drills despite cooling ties with the West
Georgia hosted a major military exercise with NATO troops on Friday, despite its government facing growing accusations of moving off its pro-Western path and tilting closer to Russia. The country's NATO membership bid is enshrined in its constitution and was endorsed by the military alliance in 2008, but Georgia's perceived democratic backsliding in recent years has placed it increasingly at odds with Western partners such as the European Union. Georgia's Defence Ministry said the Agile Spirit exercise, which is taking place near the capital Tbilisi until 8 August, is part of a broader series of joint drills. The war games involve more than 2,000 troops from 10 countries, such as Germany, Romania, Poland, Ukraine and Moldova. The drills in Georgia are expected to include live-fire exercises and a joint operation with the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade. Is the EU losing Georgia? Earlier this month, the European Parliament in Strasbourg adopted a strongly worded resolution against what EU legislators called "the self-proclaimed authorities established by the Georgian Dream party following the rigged parliamentary elections of 26 October 2024." According to the Georgian Dream, the opposition is working against the national interest along with the EU. Last autumn's elections sparked a wave of protests that lasted more than six months, primarily against the government in Georgia, amid accusations of election fraud. The EU is highly concerned by the wave of detentions carried out by the Georgian authorities against journalists and some members of the opposition. The authorities arrested at least seven opposition figures in recent months. Georgia applied for EU membership in March 2022, along with Ukraine and Moldova, and was granted candidate country status in December 2023. Just months later, growing concerns and disagreements between Brussels and the Georgian government prompted the two sides to freeze the enlargement process. As a result, the financial support from the European Peace Facility, worth €30 million, was suspended in 2024, and no support is planned for this year. Meanwhile, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze told Euronews in May that his country plays a "vital role for Europe." "Everyone should recognise Georgia's strategic importance for Europe, especially for the eurozone. Our role in the region is significant, and that's why the need for dialogue with Georgian leaders is increasingly acknowledged," he said.
