For many years Georgia has been striving to join NATO, but this has not yet been done. There are various military-political, military-technical and other factors that prevent this country from gaining membership in the organization. Nevertheless, NATO and Georgia have already concluded a number of agreements stipulating cooperation in various spheres. Various activities are being carried out, the construction of the necessary facilities is underway.
Membership issues
Georgia began cooperating with NATO in 1994, when it became one of the first participants in the Partnership for Peace program. Various activities were carried out over the next few years, but cooperation was generally limited. Only in 2001, within the framework of the PfP, joint exercises began. The next year, 2002, the Georgian leadership officially announced its desire to join the Alliance.
In 2004, the Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO was adopted, which stipulated measures for the country's entry into the organization. In 2006-2008. a number of bilateral preparation activities took place, but then problems arose in a number of areas. In August 2008, one more was added to them - Abkhazia and South Ossetia again showed their de facto independence. Without resolving all issues of territorial integrity, Georgia cannot join NATO.
However, cooperation between the state and the Alliance continued. Already in the fall of 2008, the NATO-Georgia Commission began its work, whose task was to restore and reform the Georgian military potential. Soon Georgia resumed participation in international educational and other events. Such processes continue to this day, and both parties derive all possible benefit from cooperation. However, Georgia's membership in the Alliance is still viewed as an uncertain future.
Collaboration
Such difficulties do not prevent Georgia and NATO from cooperating and carrying out rather active actions for more than 15 years. The Georgian army is regularly involved in international exercises and real operations. In addition, the Georgian military infrastructure - both existing and newly built facilities - is actively used in the interests of NATO.
In August 2003, the Georgian army joined the NATO operation in Iraq. A year later, the military went to Afghanistan to serve as part of the ISAF contingent. In this operation, Georgia was initially represented by only one reinforced platoon in the amount of 50 soldiers and officers. Subsequently, the division increased, and by mid-2013 its number exceeded 1,500 people. At the end of 2014, reductions began, and so far only 870 Georgian troops are working in Afghanistan. Service in Iraq and Afghanistan was organized on a rotational basis, and over 15 years at least 13-15 thousand people have been on business trips.
In 2012, the first exercises of the Agile Spirit series were held at Georgian training grounds with the participation of representatives of several NATO countries. These maneuvers are now held annually and demonstrate the success of the Georgian army in modernization according to NATO standards. In addition, the interaction of the Alliance countries and the state, which is only striving to join, is being worked out.
In 2015, the first Noble Partner command post exercise took place, with the same objectives. Later these events became annual. A year later, another series of NATO-Georgia exercises was launched. The plans for the exercises gradually changed, and by now we are talking about fairly large, massive and prolonged maneuvers. The events involve the troops of 10-15 countries of the Alliance, they last for several weeks and take place at a number of land and sea ranges. In addition, Georgian units regularly participate in exercises in the territories of other countries.
Thus, even in the last decade, active cooperation of an educational nature was established. Relatively large exercises are conducted at intervals of several months; there are also regular smaller events with the participation of foreign specialists or small divisions.
Infrastructure issues
NATO cooperation, among other things, provides for the joint use of Georgia's civil and military infrastructure. For example, back in 2005, an agreement appeared on the transit of goods from NATO countries to ISAF bases. People and materiel were transported to Afghanistan through Georgian ports and airfields.
Cargoes are delivered by sea to the ports of Batumi and Poti. In addition, these cities are regularly visited by ships from various NATO countries on duty in the Black Sea. The main site for military transport aviation is Tbilisi International Airport, which has all the necessary infrastructure. In the foreseeable future, it will be supplemented by the Vaziani airfield - now it is being reconstructed with NATO assistance. Railways and highways play a significant role in NATO and Georgian logistics.
Several new facilities for various purposes have been created on the territory of Georgia with the active participation of NATO. These are mainly training centers intended for use by the Georgian army and the armed forces of other countries. The first such facility was the Mountain Training Center (Sachkhere), built at the end of the 2000s. Since 2011, it has the status of a PfP training center.
In 2011, the Public Health Research Center named after M. R. Lugar, conducting research in the field of biology. Subsequently, branches of this organization were opened throughout the country. Both local and foreign specialists work in the Center and its branches.
In 1997, a training center "Krtsanisi" was formed on the basis of its own shooting range. Since the beginning of the 2000s, various joint programs with NATO have been implemented on its basis. In 2015, the facility received the status of a joint training center. Now it has modern training equipment for training to work with weapons and equipment of NATO standards. Foreign instructors work at the center.
In the city of Vaziani, there is a Combat Training Center, built at the expense of NATO. Since 2018, he has been training personnel for several infantry battalions in accordance with NATO standards. In the near future, the status of the Center may change - it is proposed to include it in one of the major international programs of the Alliance.
Benefits outside the block
Despite all efforts and various measures, Georgia has not yet been able to join NATO. When this will happen is unknown. Moreover, the very possibility of joining the Alliance raises questions. However, all these circumstances do not interfere with cooperation and obtaining a number of important benefits.
Well-established cooperation with NATO allows Georgia to gain access to modern foreign methods, strategies and equipment. Independent development of the army without the help of third countries is not possible, and the assistance of a large international organization provides the necessary opportunities. Some of the results of this are already visible and well known.
Bilateral cooperation is of interest to NATO as well. The main reason is the ability to gain access to infrastructure and facilities in the Transcaucasus. A certain contingent has already been deployed in Georgia, and if necessary, a larger and more efficient group of troops can be created, incl. international. The transport infrastructure is also actively used, due to which the supply of the Afghan group is carried out.
Thus, there is an interesting situation in the relations between Georgia and NATO. Mutually beneficial cooperation is underway, and the Alliance receives the desired opportunities. At the same time, he is not in a hurry to accept Georgia as a member. For Tbilisi, in turn, not only the real results of cooperation are important, but also the very fact of membership in the organization - which it cannot get in any way. It can be assumed that this state of affairs will continue in the future. Interaction will continue and bear fruit, but Georgia will remain outside the bloc for now.
