Noble Partner 2017 two-week int'l drills to begin in Georgia in late July - Defense Ministry
TBILISI. July 21 (Interfax) - The Noble Partner 2017 international military exercises will begin in Georgia on July 30, Georgian Defense Minister Levan Izoria said.
"The exercises will continue at the Vaziani military airfield and training range and the Defense Ministry's base in Norio through August 12. The Noble Partner 2017 exercises are a part of the cycle of military exercises held under the supervision of the United States European Command in the Black Sea region," the minister said at a briefing on Friday.
Such drills are taking place in Georgia for the third time, he said. A total of 2,800 servicemen from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine, Armenia, and Georgia will participate in the drills this year.
These drills are not aimed against any country, Izoria said. "The objective of these drills is strengthening regional security and increasing compatibility between servicemen of various countries. We welcome neighboring Armenia joining the drills," the minister said.
"Germany's Boxer armored fighting vehicle will participate in the exercises for the first time, as well as U.S. Abrams tanks and Bradley and Stryker armored vehicles. U.S. C-130 military aircraft will also be involved," Izoria said.
In addition to German and U.S. armored vehicles, which will travel from the port of Poti to the Vaziani military base near Tbilisi, ten combat aircraft, including U.S. Black Hawk helicopters, will be involved in the drills, Col. Shavlego Tabatadze, who is in charge of the drills, told reporters.