MAGAZINE
2022
GEORGIA ’ S CONTINUED CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS
NATO & REGIONAL SECURITY
By Georgian Ministry of Defence Office
For over two decades , Georgia has been actively engaged in contributing to strengthening the Euro-Atlantic and regional security . This was confirmed multiple times by Georgia ’ s unwavering commitment and important role in the international missions . Georgia , as a future member of NATO , is ready to further contribute towards achieving common security goals and strengthening global peace and security .
Relations between NATO and Georgia began in 1992 when Georgia joined the North-Atlantic Cooperation Council ( NACC ) and galvanized in 2002 NATO Prague Summit when the country officially declared its aspiration to NATO membership . Since then Georgia ' s key foreign and security policy priority direction of NATO membership remains unchanged .
The first presence of Georgian Defence Forces ( GDF ) at the NATO-led international peacekeeping mission started in 1999 with platoon-sized unit deployment . Since then , 23 years later , Georgian soldiers have been serving shoulder-to-shoulder with the allied forces and was one of the largest contributing nations to NATO missions ; deploying the second battalion to Afghanistan in 2012 , participating in NATO ’ s Operation Sea Guardian , and also in the NATO Response Force ( NRF ) with one light infantry company , as well as in the European Union Training Missions in Africa .
The high level of combat readiness , interoperability , professionalism , dignity and dedication of Georgian soldiers has been acknowledged many times by its international partners at the highest political levels .
Logistics capabilities of the GDF were vital to the collective effort of some NATO Allies and Partners during the evacuation process from Afghanistan . Georgia ’ s NATO-standard infrastructure and streamlined logistic capabilities and procedures , including Host Nation Support ( HNS ) and Reception , Staging and Onward Movement ( RSOM ) capacity , ensured smooth evacuation and transit from Afghanistan . The GDF will continue cooperation with international partners in all existing formats for strengthening national and international security .
One of the best examples of NATO-Georgia cooperation is NATO-Georgia exercise series . In March 2022 , Joint Training and Evaluation Centre hosted third iteration of the exercise . NATO Land Command serves as a mentor to GDF General Staff , while the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre ( JTEC ) will have the role of Officer Directing the Exercise ( ODE ), along with the Georgian Defence Forces acting as the Officer Conducting the Exercise ( OCE ).
With strengthened defence capabilities , level of interoperability , training opportunities and modernized infrastructure the country is ready to continue supporting peace and stability and actively considers modalities of potential engagement in the Allied efforts to ensure peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic area and beyond .
Georgia ’ s active participation in international peacekeeping missions and operations once again demonstrates that Georgia is a reliable and responsible partner and valuable security provider nation .
LC
28