Georgia coastguard set for joint exercises with Türkiye Under NATO framework

Georgia’s coastguard is set to gain the ability to conduct joint exercises with Türkiye within a NATO framework, following the submission of a draft agreement to parliament.

The proposal was announced by Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, according to Sputnik Georgia.

“Georgia has already signed a similar agreement with Greece,” Darakhvelidze said. “Georgia is the first country outside NATO to receive the opportunity to hold such exercises with an Alliance member. I believe this is important for the coastguard.”

If approved, the agreement would expand cooperation between Georgia and NATO member states in the maritime domain, strengthening training and interoperability in the Black Sea region.

In July, Georgia and Greece conducted joint coastguard drills in the Black Sea, focusing on maritime safety and emergency response, marking the first time Georgia exercised with a NATO member under a dedicated bilateral agreement.

Separately, NATO warships have made regular port calls to Batumi and Poti as part of the Alliance’s enhanced maritime presence in the Black Sea, a move Georgian officials say contributes to regional stability and deterrence.

Earlier this year, the Interior Ministry said Georgia plans to modernise its coastguard fleet and expand training programmes with NATO partners, citing growing security challenges in the Black Sea following Russia’s war in Ukraine.

By Aghakazim Guliyev