In the Black Sea — Training with.50-caliber machine gun aboard guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon #AlliedStrong pic.twitter.com/djdKZNmp3S
— US Mission to NATO (@USNATO) 27 июня 2015
Into the Black Sea — Great shot from yesterday as USS Laboon transits the Bosphorus Strait en route to the Black Sea pic.twitter.com/GYMXnBlnHA
— US Mission to NATO (@USNATO) 23 июня 2015
A high-ranking delegation, including Georgia's Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli and US Ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland, welcomed the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer hailing from the United States Navy's 6th Fleet as it docked in Batumi on Saturday.
The USS Laboon made a port visit in Batumi.This visit reaffirms US commitments to strengthen ties w/ #NATO allies pic.twitter.com/Cn8JF5TC3x
— Tina Khidasheli (@tinakhidasheli) 28 июня 2015
The Laboon's visit is also aimed at enhancing "Georgia's deterrent capabilities, professionalism and capability of its armed forces," Norland said in a statement, without detailing the exact threats the country might be facing.
In July, Georgia will host the multilateral Agile Spirit 2015 exercise focused on peacekeeping and support operations.
#Georgia to host the annual US-GEO mil exercises #AgileSpirit on Vaziani base in July w/colleagues f ROM,LITH,LAT,BUL pic.twitter.com/ynD07Y2YaR
— Tina Khidasheli (@tinakhidasheli) 26 июня 2015
In August, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is set to come to Georgia to open a new training center.
Had a very productive meeting w/ #NATO dep. sec. gen @NATOdsg Agreed to host @jensstoltenberg in #Tbilisi in August. pic.twitter.com/dx9obJyYvZ
— Tina Khidasheli (@tinakhidasheli) 25 июня 2015
Earlier, Khidasheli called Georgia "one of the most interoperable, reliable and devoted partners of NATO."
.@tinakhidasheli:“I am proud that #Georgia, today, represents one of the most interoperable, reliable and devoted Partners of @NATO #SMPC
— რესპუბლიკელები (@republicans_ge) 9 июня 2015
.@tinakhidasheli:I am confident, that this will naturally lead to fulfillment of our primary objective — @NATO membership. #SMPC
— რესპუბლიკელები (@republicans_ge) 9 июня 2015
my dream to have this generation of Geo Army with NATO badges in Georgia. too much to dream? pic.twitter.com/h2QFBZPmJG
— Tina Khidasheli (@tinakhidasheli) 5 июня 2015
The alliance has described the deployment of troops and military hardware to the Russian neighborhood, as well as the military drills as "proportionate" and "defensive" activities, which pose no threat to any country, including Russia.
Moscow has repeatedly voiced legitimate concern over the US and NATO's saber-rattling, warning it could undermine European stability and security.
