Agile Sprit 23:Defending the Republic of Georgia

NATO Exercise Agile Spirit 23 is underway in the Republic of Georgia.It began on 21 August and runs through 1 September 2023.Led by U.S. Army V Corps and joined by Georgia Defence Forces,Turkiye and Multinational Division Southeast,it primarily is based in Goergia,with one additional site in Turkiye.The drills are meant to support theatre security cooperation and improve interoperability among NATO Allies and Partners,as well as bolster multinational readiness capabilities by exercising rapid mobility,posturing combat creible forces across the European theatre to the country of Georgia to hone their defence efforts and deter aggression in the Black Sea Region while also exercising the enduring U.S. State Partnership Program with the Georgia Army National Guard.Said Lt.Gen John S. Kolasheski,commanding general of U.S. Army V Corps:We are well-prepared to integrate with exercise participants and greatly look forward to a successful exercise that builds combined lethality and readiness.* Critical training includes a Brigade-level Command Post Exercise with NATO Multinational Division Southeast;a Brigade-level field training exercise;a Combined Battalion-level Joint Forcible Entry into Turkiye;Combined Battalion Live Fire and Field Training drills;combined special forces operations;combined medical and protection training;and other live-fire exercises in multiple locations within the country of Georgia.In a realistic training environment,the drills improve interoperability at the tactical level between joint U.S. Forces,Allies and Partner Forces;planning for GDF Special Operations Forces and conventional forces integration;and exercising with combined multinational units,improving Command and Control capabilities.It ensures that US,Allied and Partner Forces maintain our deterrence capability with a combination of combat-ready multinational forces.Some 3600 military personnel from 21 Allied and Partner Forces include:Azerbaijan,Belgium,Bulgaria,Bosnia and Herzegovina,Canada,France,Germany,Greece,Hungary,Italy,Jordan,Latvia,Lithuania,Moldova,Norway,Poland,Romania,Slovakia,Spain,Turkiye,the UK and the US.The breakdown of Forces is about 1200 US personnel;1900 Georgia Defence Forces personnel;and around 500 from the other participants.The drills will take place in the following Georgia Training Areas:Vaziani,Krtsanisi,Norio,and Senaki.Turkiye will host drills at the Kayseri Airbase Martyr BAK Drop Zone.Neighbours in the Black Sea Region,Turkiye and Georgia share a commen border.* The US and Turkiye have a renewed closeness as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wishes to meet with President Joseph R. Biden in the near future.