International multinational military exercise Agile Spirit marks its jubilee. It is the 10th time Georgia hosts Agile Spirit. This year the most large-scale multinational military exercise will be held from July 26 through August 6. This is reported by the administration of the Ministry of Defense of Georgia.

Agile Spirit 2021 aims to enhance interoperability among the forces of NATO member and partner countries, to improve and strengthen operational capabilities during planning and execution of operations in real time within multinational environment, to improve cooperation in multinational readiness and security sphere. Agile Spirit 2021 promotes regional stability and security, as well as strengthens capabilities of Alliance member and partner countries to react to regional crises and challenges more effectively. That’s why the main message of the Agile Spirit 2021 is - “Strength through Partnership”.

The 10th Agile Spirit 2021 is distinctive and larger scale rather than the previous exercises:

For the first time Georgian-made armored vehicles Didgori Meomari and Didgori MedEvac will participate in the international multinational exercise.

The number of the countries participating in the exercise is large – this year 15 NATO member and partner countries are involved in it, including: Georgia, USA, UK, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Turkey, Latvia, Estonia, Germany, Azerbaijan, Spain, Canada, Italy and Lithuania. More than 2500 military of 15 countries will take part in Agile Spirit 2021.

The training theatre is also large-scale, which will be expanded to five locations – II Infantry Brigade in Senaki, Sorta/Eki training area, Orpolo rifle range, Vaziani rifle range and Vaziani military aerodrome.

For the first time in the history of multinational exercises conducted in Georgia, a combined airborne operation with the participation of military from Georgia, USA, UK, Poland and UK will be held within Agile Spirit 2021.

One more novelty within the 10th Agile Spirit is the direction of Special Operation Forces. For the first time in the history of multinational exercises conducted in Georgia, Special Operation Forces from Georgia, USA, UK, Romania and Poland will perform combined operations in renovated and modernized Sorta training area.

The multinational military training is complex and its scenario includes command, staff and field trainings with airborne operations and live fire, as well as with the engagement of maneuver and combat support elements in defensive and offensive operations.

On February 5, 2021, Georgian Chief of Defense, Major General Giorgi Matiashvili presided over the opening ceremony of the Georgia Defense Readiness Program (GDRP) at Vaziani Training Area. 

GDRP, a three-month training, and readiness program, which includes unit-level training and live-fire exercises, will prepare the Georgian 22nd Infantry Battalion to conduct wartime missions in defense of their nation and in support of multinational missions around the world.

Maj Gen Matiashvili was joined at the ceremony by command teams from Land Forces West, the 2nd Brigade, Georgia’s Training and Military Education Command, members of the United States’ Task Force Ascalon, and the US Office of Defense Cooperation.  The Georgia Defense Readiness Program further highlights the deep and continuing relationship between Georgian Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense.