The Pentagon has indefinitely postponed a major U.S. Army exercise in Georgia, originally slated to begin on July 25, 2024. This decision follows accusations that the Georgian government has been conducting an anti-American misinformation campaign, raising concerns about future cooperation between the two countries.
The exercise, named Noble Partner 2024, was to involve approximately 3,000 U.S. and allied troops and take place at the Vaziani and Camp Norio Training Areas outside Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. This annual drill has been a significant event, with previous iterations involving thousands of troops from numerous countries. However, the Pentagon cited “false accusations” by leaders of the ruling Georgian Dream party, who alleged that the U.S. and its allies were pressuring Georgia to open a second front against Russia in the Ukraine conflict and accused U.S. officials of attempting coups against the Georgian government.
The indefinite postponement of Noble Partner 2024 reflects growing friction between the U.S. and Georgia, once a steadfast ally in the U.S. war in Afghanistan. Georgia was the largest per-capita contributor of troops to Afghanistan, deploying over 20,000 soldiers since 2010, many of whom saw combat. The current strain in relations marks a significant shift from this period of close cooperation.
The decision to cancel the exercise comes as Georgia faces accusations of shifting towards authoritarianism and strengthening its ties with Russia. The Georgian parliament recently passed a controversial “foreign agents” bill, which critics say mimics Russian laws and targets media and NGOs receiving significant foreign funding. This move has been met with widespread protests in Tbilisi and has raised concerns about Georgia’s democratic trajectory and its aspirations to join NATO and the European Union.
Retired Gen. Philip Breedlove, former commander of U.S. European Command, criticized the decision, suggesting it signals a retreat from supporting Georgia. “Our Georgia policy is being written by our actions and we are backing away from Georgia,” Breedlove said. “That’s a bad message. I believe that our administration is nearly fully deterred by Russia.”
The Pentagon’s announcement also comes ahead of the 2024 NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., where officials are expected to discuss support for Ukraine amidst its ongoing war with Russia. The cancellation of Noble Partner 2024 underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics at play, with the U.S. balancing its response to Russia’s aggression and its alliances in the region.
Despite the postponement of Noble Partner 2024, the Pentagon expressed its commitment to future cooperation with allies, looking forward to the Agile Spirit 2025 exercise, which traditionally includes participation from both Turkey and Georgia.
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