Military Security

Defense and Security Cooperation

United States-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership signed in January 2009 represents a Strategic Partnership framework agreement for cooperation between the countries.

A Memorandum on “Deepening the Defense and Security Partnership” signed on July 6, 2016 between the US and Georgian Governments bears special importance and accordingly has enhanced cooperation to a new level. The document entails mobilization of all the necessary efforts for enhancing combat readiness of the Armed Forces.

Based on the Memorandum on “Deepening the Defense and Security Partnership” detailed cooperation project for 2016-2019 has been worked out, which entails increasing combat readiness and development of institutional capabilities for sustainment of the Armed Forces.

US assistance in the educational field is also of high importance. In the frames of International Military Education and Training Program civilian and military personnel of the Georgian Armed Forces are retrained in the US military institutions.

Starting from March 2010 Georgian military units participated in the ISAF (International Security Assistance Forces) mission in Afghanistan under the US Marine Forces, since 2015 Georgian militaries are taking part in the RSM (Resolute Support Mission).

US and Georgia are regularly conducting joint multinational exercises, Agile Spirit” (since 2011) and “Noble Partner” (since 2015)

One of the important episodes of the US-Georgian cooperation was the implementation of Georgia Train and Equip Program (GTEP) initiated in 2002 and followed by the Sustainment and Stability Operations Program (SSOP) in 2005. Three Georgian brigades trained under the GTEP and SSOP have been deployed in Iraq under the U.S. leadership in 2005-2008.

Military educational programs, U.S. Advisory teams, assessment visits of the U.S. experts are important mention. These programs financed and implemented by the U.S. side aim to increase Georgia’s defense capabilities, stimulate defense reforms and enhance the level of military education.

Another important dimension of the U.S.-Georgia security cooperation is Biological Threat Reduction Program, which is the priority area of cooperation in the sphere of non-proliferation of WMD. Within the framework of the program, Central Public Health Reference Laboratory (CPHRL) has been established.

The aim of the “Deepening the Defense and Security Partnership” is to improve Georgia’s defense system modernization, accelerate defense reforms, increase the level of NATO interoperability and improve self-defense capabilities.