NATO-Georgia joint training exercises set for April-May 2025

Major General Bogdan Rycerski, the newly appointed commander of NATO’s Joint Force Training Centre (JFTC), recently visited Georgia to discuss the upcoming NATO-Georgia 2025 exercise, which will be held later this year.

During his visit to the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre (JTEC) in Krtsanisi, Rycerski, and Georgian officials reviewed plans for the major military exercises scheduled for April 28 to May 8, 2025, Caliber.Az reports per Georgian media.

The exercise will be a significant event in the long-standing and productive partnership between NATO and Georgian training facilities.

According to the Georgian Defence Ministry, the NATO-Georgia 2025 exercise will involve a wide array of participating nations, including Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, France, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Türkiye, and the United States. Notably, Armenia will also participate as an observer, underscoring the inclusive nature of the training initiative.

The exercise will take place at the Krtsanisi base in Georgia and is expected to enhance military cooperation, operational readiness, and interoperability between NATO forces and Georgian troops, as well as other partner nations.

The Italian Embassy in Georgia also confirmed the dates of the exercise, adding that this will mark another milestone in the growing military collaboration between Georgia and NATO.

The NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC) is a pivotal component of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package, which was adopted at the NATO Summit in Wales in August 2014 as part of the NATO Defence Capabilities Initiative. Established with the aim of enhancing Georgia's defence and security capabilities, JTEC plays a vital role in supporting the country's modernization efforts and its long-term goal of NATO membership.

The creation of the JTEC working group took place in May 2015, and the Center itself was officially inaugurated in August 2015 in Krtsanisi, Georgia, with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in attendance. In May 2016, the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center was formally established as a structural entity.

JTEC's primary mission is to support Georgia in strengthening, reforming, and modernizing its defense and security sectors. The Center also works to improve the interoperability of the Georgian Defence Forces with NATO standards. This includes conducting field training and command-staff exercises for Georgian forces, NATO troops, and partner countries. The Center aims to enhance Georgia’s defense capabilities while advancing its preparations for eventual NATO membership.

In addition to its key role in military training, JTEC helps Georgia contribute to regional stability by serving as a leading regional training hub. Through its continued efforts, the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center plays a crucial part in preparing Georgia for future integration into the NATO alliance and in strengthening the security framework of the broader region.

By Vafa Guliyeva