NATO exercises with participation of Ukrainian military begin in Georgia
NATO Agile Spirit 2017 multinational military exercises began in Georgia on September 3, reported News-Georgia news agency.
The Agile Spirit exercises have been held annually since 2011. They are one component in an effort to improve Georgia’s cooperation with the U.S. and NATO. The purpose of the exercises is to improve the interaction between the Georgian military and its counterparts from the United States and partner countries, as well as improve preparedness to respond to crises and participate in joint operations with the NATO Response Force.
The exercises, which involve both command post and field maneuvers, will end on September 11. In addition to military personnel from Georgia and America, representatives from Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Ukraine and Armenia are taking part in the exercises.
According to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s website, Ukrainian marines and Ukraine’s naval aviation forces are participating in the exercises. The purpose of participation in the event is to create a multinational environment where the Ukrainian military can work together with member and partner nations of the NATO alliance, thus improving military training both in the field and in the air.