President Zourabichvili underlined the need for "continually developing Georgia's military capabilities, strengthening its resilience, and increasing its interoperability with NATO standards" during his speech at the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center.

"The international community recognises that European peace and security face unprecedented difficulties in light of continuous Russian aggression in Ukraine," she said.

"This in itself is a rebuttal to Russia's continuous threats," she added, citing the participation of 20 NATO member and partner nations in the exercise, which drew over 560 people.

Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili emphasised the importance of the joint exercise in boosting Georgia's defence forces' preparedness, improving governance, and developing interoperability with the Alliance.

"We, together with many of our allies, have supported and pushed for international peace throughout the years," Prime Minister Garibashvili stated. "Such exercises not only provide a good opportunity to share information and expertise in this field, but they also improve our coordination and enhance security and stability."

Georgia's leadership in conducting the exercise, he added, demonstrated "the great quality and professionalism of our army and, in this case, its command."

"Given the shifting geopolitical landscape," Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili stated, "continued joint Georgian-NATO military drills sends a powerful message of solidarity and emphasises that NATO continues to support its allies' national objectives."

Papuashvili centred his address on Georgia's involvement in foreign operations, stating that "80% of Georgian Defence Forces have served with dignity in NATO and EU missions."

"35 of our courageous men gave their lives to protect common ideals and principles in Iraq and Afghanistan, while more than 300 others incurred bodily injuries," he said.

Georgia is hosting combined computer-assisted command post drills with NATO and its allies for the third time. The first NATO-Georgia exercise, held every three years, took place in 2016, followed by another in 2019.

The exercise is part of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP), which aims to improve Georgia's interoperability with NATO.

In a video call, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addressed Georgian authorities, local and international military troops, and diplomats participating in NATO-Georgia Exercise 2022.

“This exercise, which we conducted for the third time, shows NATO’s commitment to strengthen Georgia’s defence capabilities,” the NATO chief said, arguing that “by training and educating its armed forces, it is demonstrating NATO’s close cooperation with Georgia.”

“Strong and capable armed forces are key to uphold Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. And NATO will continue to support you in your efforts,” Secretary General Stoltenberg stressed.

Stoltenberg condemned Russia's "brutal and mindless" attack on Ukraine, recalling Russia's earlier transgressions, including its 2008 war against Georgia and 2014 invasion of Ukraine's Crimea.

NATO was "committed to continue to impose significant costs on the Kremlin, to bring an end to this horrific war," according to the Secretary General, and to further up its support for Ukraine by sending military equipment, financial help, and humanitarian aid.

Jens Stoltenberg reaffirmed NATO's commitment to defend its key values, including every country's ability to choose its own path, in response to Moscow's demands that the Alliance reject Georgia and Ukraine's membership aspirations.

Stoltenberg said the Allies agreed to step up support for Georgia

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that the Allies decided to increase support for Georgia.

“Allies agreed that we must also increase our support for other partners at risk from Russian threats and interference, including Georgia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina,” stated the NATO Secretary General.

“Working together, and with the European Union, we must help them uphold their sovereignty and strengthen their resilience,” Jens Stoltenberg continued.

In his words, NATO has a "duty to ensure the crisis does not develop further," in addition to assisting Ukraine in its battle against Russian aggression. “Because it would be far more harmful and disastrous."

Georgia's Parliamentary Vice-Speaker on NATO membership

While Georgian authorities and society are unified in their pursuit of NATO membership, Parliamentary Vice-Speaker Archil Talakvadze stated that the government is willing to negotiate additional long-term security assurances for Georgia with foreign partners.

"Every nation in the area is thinking about the circumstances of its protection and mutual assistance (since) Russian Federation invaded Ukraine and hostilities are ongoing," the top Georgian Dream legislator said.

MP Talakvadze's comments come as the Russian-invaded Ukraine seeks international non-NATO measures to secure its security, and as talks concerning the viability of military neutrality have lately erupted in Georgia.

Ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili's recent comments that Moscow and the Georgian Dream Government were conspiring to declare Georgia a neutral state were also slammed by the GD MP.

"We've seen a lot of outrageous remarks from (Saakashvili), and the public has [raised] concerns about whose interests Saakashvili and his [colleagues] represented," he added.

On March 17, former President Mikheil Saakashvili talked of a "massive provocation" scheme in and around Russian-occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which would be blamed on Georgian opposition groups. According to Saakashvili's allegations, the Russian government would next demand that Georgian authorities proclaim neutrality, and Tbilisi would be willing to comply.

Meanwhile, government-critical TV networks have stated that Georgian Dream-affiliated commentators have begun to discreetly campaign for social media neutrality.

Garibashvili on Georgia-U.S. Partnership

Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili remarked that the "Georgia-US partnership is as strong as ever."

"The United States has remained with us as our most faithful partner and trustworthy ally ever since that day," Georgian Prime Minister said.

"Georgia's unwavering determination to stand with our most important ally and strategic partner, the United States of America," Garibashvili added.

"We will fight democracy and freedom across the world together, and we appreciate your enormous contributions to our alliance," he flagged.

"Whether in the battlefields of distant regions or in working to build my country's democratic institutions, defence capabilities, and economic growth, Georgia and the United States continue to strengthen connections by working closely together” he added.

"In our area and beyond, Georgia is a devoted friend and trusted partner for the United States of America," the Prime Minister stated.

"We seek to further the value-based process of Georgia's European and Euro-Atlantic integration and continue to develop our democratic institutions and rule of law," Garibashvili shared.

"The most plausible response to the extraordinarily complex security situation Georgia and our Allies confront in the area is to advance Georgia on the NATO membership road."

"Georgia today is a well-functioning democracy, with an open, thriving economy that is firmly on the road of European and Euro-Atlantic integration," the Prime Minister added, citing U.S. support and generous assistance over three decades.

Georgian PM on separatist war in Ukraine

"Humanity is seeing terrible and consequential acts engineered by the Russian Federation in Ukraine," Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said. "The battle has rattled not just regional, but also global security, stability, and peace," Garibashvili said.

"Let me be clear: there is no alternative to peace for our nation, which had its own Russian invasion in 2008 and 20 percent of its sovereign land remains occupied," he continued.

"Georgia, realising the atrocities that come with war, has been displaying full support and solidarity with the Ukrainian people and state from the very first days," the Prime Minister said.