The Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP) aims to strengthen Georgia’s ability to defend itself and advance in its preparations for NATO membership. Since its endorsement by NATO Heads of State and Government, relevant representatives have been working together to further Georgia’s defense capabilities, increase its interoperability with NATO, and support Georgia’s integration in the alliance.

This week, members of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP) Core Team met with representatives of the National Crisis Management Center (Department) of the Office of National Security Council for discussions related to SNGP’s Crisis Management Initiative, which is led by Denmark.

Georgia will host „NATO-Georgia Exercise 2022“ for the third time in March. From planning to execution phase the joint NATO-Georgia exercise will be led by the Georgian side. The exercise will be comprised of NATO member and partner countries. 

Representatives of NATO member and partner countries along with the Georgian counterparts summarized the final details during the three-day Final Coordination Conference of the „NATO-Georgia Exercise 2022“at the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC) in Krtsanisi. NATO Joint Forces Training Center (JFTC) Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff Brigadier General Jozsef Szpisjak and LTC Gabor Endrodi attended the Final Coordination Conference. In the framework of the visit, representatives of JFTC held working meetings with the Deputy Chiefs of the Georgian Defence Forces, Major General Zaza Chkhaidze and Brigade General Irakli Chichinadze. The sides talked about the details of „NATO-Georgia Exercise 2022“ and discussed future plans of cooperation. 

“NATO-Georgia Exercise 2022” will take place at the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC), Krtsanisi. Military personnel of more than 20 NATO member and partner countries will take part in the exercise. The participants will improve skills in planning NATO operations through Computer Assisted, Command Post Exercise (CAX/CPX). The exercise is implemented under the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP) and is aimed at further developing the interoperability of Georgian, Allied and Partner Forces, as well as Georgian command and control capabilities.

MOD of Georgia

MIA Border Police Coast Guard and NATO Naval Unit ships conducted the joint naval exercise in the Black Sea.

A delegation of the Italian Defence Forces headed by the Chief of the International Relations Service of the Italian Defense Staff, Brigadier General David Morpurgo is paying visit to Georgia.

The representatives of the Department of International Relations and Euro-Atlantic Integration of the MoD of Georgia and the General Staff of the Defence Forces hosted the members of the Italian delegation at the Ministry of Defence. During the meeting, the sides discussed bilateral cooperation issues in the field of defence and the future plans of partnership.

The Georgian side thanked the Italian delegation members for Italy's support of Georgia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations. The topics highlighted during the meeting included security in the region and transformation of GDF aimed at enhancing the national defensive capabilities and interoperability with NATO.

The discussions also focused on the successful implementation of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP), the contribution of Italy to the development of SNGP initiatives - the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC) and the Defence Institution Building School (DIBS). Cooperation between the Military Police of GDF and the Italian Carabinieri Corps, including in the field of education were also reviewed.

At the end of the meeting, a bilateral cooperation plan for 2021 was signed between the Ministries of Defence of Italy and Georgia, which will set out the cooperation areas for the current year. Shalva Kvinikhidze, Head of the Department of International Relations and Euro-Atlantic Integration of MoD of Georgia and Brigadier General David Morpurgo, Head of the International Relations Service of the Italian Defense Staff signed the document.

Statement of the MOD Georgia

The NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC) is hosting the training on MILES I-HITS and VBS-3 simulation systems. The course aims to develop relevant skills for the operation of equipment for JTEC military personnel so that they will be able to independently conduct training for various units of the Defense Forces in the future with these simulation systems.

VBS-3 is used for the preparation of company-level units and MILES I-HITS systems are designed to conduct field exercises for a battalion and an adversary unit (force-to-force). The two-week course is held for the first time and includes theoretical and practical trainings.

Press release of the JTEC

Within the Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO (SNMG2) port call to Georgia the NATO force conducted combined maritime trainings in the Black Sea with the Coast Guard Department under the MIA Border Police of Georgia.

SNMG2 ships - REGINA MARIA (Romania), KEMALREIS (Turkey) and SMELI (Bulgaria) conduct combined maritime exercise training with the Georgian Coast Guard vessels "Ochamchire" [P23] and "Dioskuria" [P25].

The aim of maritime exercises is to enhance interoperability and interaction between the Georgian and Allied forces.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, this port visit is a visible demonstration of NATO’s continued commitment to Georgia. It is important that NATO port visits to Georgia's Black Sea ports are regular, which is one of the tangible results of NATO-Georgia cooperation in strengthening Black Sea security.

Joint training was held in full compliance with the recommendations of the Georgia’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Source: https://police.ge/en/shav-zghvashi-nato-saqartvelos-ertoblivi-sazghvao-tsvrtnebi-chatarda/14477

Within the framework of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP), with the support of NATO Defense Georgia Capacity Building Trust Fund’s relevant project, NATO Support and Procurement Organization – NSPA, gifted 5 high traverse Renault vehicles to the Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC). The transfer of vehicles is aimed at developing the capacity of the center, increasing mobility, and improving the logistics component.

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Defense of Georgia Zurab Azarashvili, Deputy Commander of the Defense Forces, Major General Zaza Chkhaidze, Deputy Head of the NATO Liaison Office Pirit Pikker and representatives of the NSPA.

The NATO side purchased various types of vehicles for JTEC on the basis of a grant agreement signed between NSPA and the Ministry of Defense of Georgia in 2017, the total cost of which is 1.2 million Euros.

In total, 20 vehicles were gifted to JTEC, which will significantly improve the Center’s transportation issues, which will increase the overall capacity for JTEC to operate efficiently. JTEC NATO Advisory Team was also actively involved in the project implementation.

As part of the United States' firm commitment to the U.S.-Georgian military partnership, a shipment of Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) equipment arrived yesterday and will be distributed to the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC) where it will be used to enhance the realism of combat training for the Georgian Defense Forces.

At a total cost of $4.3M, this program (funded with Title 22 grant assistance) includes the full complement of training, equipment, and administration.

Press release of US Embassy in Georgia

Refreshed Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP) was approved by NATO Allies and Georgia at the meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs. The updated package will provide more support to improve Georgia’s defense and security capabilities, strengthen resistance, enhance interoperability to NATO and Georgia’s integration process to the Alliance.    

Decision on renew/refresh of SNGP was made within NAC official visit to Georgia back in 2019. On NAC behalf, NATO Partnership and Cooperative Security Committee (PSCS) was responsible to lead the SNGP refreshment process in 2020 in cooperation with the Georgian side. The Interagency Council for Substantial NATO-Georgia Package, established under the decree of Prime Minister of Georgia, led the process under the leadership of MoD. 

“Just the fact that we had this meeting at ministerial level sends a very clear message of support. It demonstrates the strong political support from all NATO Allies to Georgia, its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the fact that we provide both political support but also practical support. And we do that also by strengthening the package, which is the foundation for our cooperation, the partnership with Georgia. It was expressed clearly by Allies that they are looking into how they can further provide practical support in different ways to Georgia. One of the purposes of NATO 2030 is, of course, also to look into how we can further strengthen our partnerships, work with countries like Georgia”, stated NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the press conference.

On the basis of 5 year-long experience received during the successful implementation of SNGP, the refreshed process aimed to review existing initiatives, to intensify and successfully implement them, as well as to add new practical components within it.

Press release of MOD Georgia

NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC) hosted a solemn ceremony dedicated to the graduation of the courses of the Captain Career School of the Combined Army Center.

Deputy Chief of the Georgian Defence Forces and Acting Chief of the General Staff Brigadier General Irakli Dzneladze, Commander of Trainings and Military Education Command Colonel Grigol Chelidze and other MoD officials granted diplomas to 106 graduates.

The Captain's Career School provides training for the commanders, battalion and brigade staff officers as well as insures development of commanding skills.

The graduates underwent career programs in maneuvering, intelligence, artillery, aviation, military-engineering, air defense, logistics, personnel, medicine and communications. The aim of the course is to promote effective coordination and interaction between the different units.

Since its foundation, 1,600 military personnel finished the School.