Noble Partner 2018 multinational military exercises kick off in Georgia

The Noble Partner 2018 multinational military exercises have started at the Vaziani training area in Georgia today.

The purpose of the exercises is to train and improve the interaction of the forces of NATO/PfP countries and partner countries by using NATO standards in the field.

They will be among more than 3,000 troops training in command and field drills under the leadership of the Georgian Armed Forces and US Army Europe, Agenda.ge reported.

Troops and military hardware from NATO member states and Georgia’s allies arrived in the country’s Black Sea port of Poti in July.

Combat vehicles including the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank, Stryker armoured fighting vehicle and Bradley fighting vehicle were unloaded at the western sea port earlier today.

Marking the 4th time Georgia hosts the exercise, service members from 13 NATO and allied countries will be involved its increased scope. Beside units from the host country the drills will feature troops from the US, the United Kingdom, Germany, Estonia, France, Lithuania, Poland, Norway, Turkey, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Georgia’s Defence Ministry says the multinational event aims to increase interoperability and combat readiness between Georgian and allied troops, develop combat capabilities and contribute to security in the Black Sea region.

Last year’s Noble Partner saw over 2,800 service members from eight participating nations cooperate at the Vaziani training ground.