Armenia

Armenia-Greece-Cyprus Military Cooperation Programs for 2024

On December 18, bilateral consultations were conducted between Armenia and Greece, as well as between Armenia and Cyprus, alongside trilateral discussions involving Armenia, Greece, and Cyprus, held at the premises of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Armenia, the Press Office of the Armenian Defense Ministry reported.

The Head of the International Organizations Section of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, Brigadier General Vasileios Tsamis, led the Greek delegation. On the Cypriot side, the Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Cyprus National Guard General Staff, Colonel Alkiviadis Alkiviadis, headed the Cypriot delegation. 

These consultations encompassed a comprehensive review of the outcomes stemming from the official visits of the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Armenia, Suren Papikyan, to the Republic of Cyprus and the Hellenic Republic. Discussions further delved into the course of bilateral and trilateral cooperation alongside considerations of regional and international security issues.

The head of the Department of Defence Policy and International Cooperation of the MoD of the Republic of Armenia, Levon Ayvazyan, presented his colleagues with a detailed overview of the ongoing reforms within the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia.

Concluding the consultations, the participating parties formalized agreements by signing the Armenia-Greece, Armenia-Cyprus, and Armenia-Greece-Cyprus Military Cooperation Programs for 2024. These programs encompass a myriad of measures in areas of mutual interest.

Armenian-French bilateral military consultations

On December 21, Armenian-French bilateral military consultations took place in Paris.

The Armenian delegation was headed by Levon Ayvazyan, Head of the Defense Policy and International Cooperation Department of the Armenian Ministry. Alice Rufo, Director of the Directorate of International Relations and Strategy of the French Ministry of Armed Forces, held the French side discussions.

International and regional security issues have been thoroughly discussed, as well as cooperation agendas, and several arrangements have been made.

Azerbaijan

Local exercises

On December 19, the Azerbaijan Air Force's unmanned aerial vehicle units (UAV) carried out training flights, the Press Office of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported. The UAV crews fulfilled the tasks of aerial reconnaissance along the specified route, determination of imaginary enemy's ground target coordinates, and their destruction by precise airstrikes, as well as other activities. During the flights, all the assigned tasks were accomplished.

On December 22, practical shooting exercises were carried out on shooting from sniper rifles. After delivering the safety rules to the servicemen, they fulfilled the required standards for taking the firing position and putting the weapon into combat mode. Snipers professionally fulfilled the tasks of detecting and destroying imaginary enemy targets following the precise targeting rules. The main objective of the training exercises is to increase the level of readiness of servicemen and further improve their practical skills and firing abilities.

Georgia

Meeting with Javier Colomina

On December 19, the Minister of Defense of Georgia hosted Javier Colomina, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of NATO in the Caucasus and Central Asia, the Press Office of the Georgian Defense Ministry reported. Juansher Burchuladze thanked Javier Colomina for supporting Georgia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the country's integration into NATO.

The parties exchanged views on the security environment and challenges in Georgia and the region. The defense minister introduced the reforms implemented in the defense field and achieved progress in strengthening Georgia's defense capability and increasing its compatibility with NATO. The meeting highlighted the critical importance of successfully implementing the Enhanced NATO-Georgia Essential Package (SNGP) and the Alliance's support tailored to Georgia's needs in light of the current security challenges.

Speaking with the Minister of Defense, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of NATO highly appreciated the successful activities of the Ministry of Defense and the interagency government team during the year and spoke about plans. He confirmed his unwavering support for Georgia's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

New military base in Mukhrovani

On December 20, Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Parliament, and parliamentary majority members were at the Mukhrovani military base. Deputy Minister of Defense Grigol Giorgadze and Commander of Defense Forces Major General Giorgi Matiashvili hosted Shalva Papuashvili and the MPs. The guests viewed the construction works of the new base of the Special Operations Command. 

In Mukhrovani, the construction of the new military base of the Special Operations Command is going on intensively. Large-scale infrastructural works envisage the construction of 24 new buildings and the rehabilitation of 3 old buildings. Eight buildings have already been built at this stage, and internal works are underway. The construction of the Rangers building is almost finished, and the roofing work has started; construction of the security building is in progress. Three floors of the special-purpose battalion building have been removed.

Notably, the foundation for constructing the new Special Operations Forces base was laid last year within the framework of the Special Operations Forces Foundation Day event. The Prime Minister of Georgia, the Minister of Defense, and the Commander of the Defense Forces put a capsule in the foundation of one of the buildings. 

Denmark Hands Over Vehicles and Computer Equipment to NATO-Georgian Joint Training and Evaluation Center

On December 21, the Danish side handed over off-road vehicles and computer equipment to the NATO-Georgian Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC) of the Defense Forces of Georgia. The ceremony of transfer of equipment was attended by Minister of Defense of Georgia Juansher Burchuladze, Commander of the Defense Forces, Major General Giorgi Matiashvili, Ambassador of Denmark to Georgia Anne Toft Sørensen, and representatives of the Ministry of Defense. 

Within the peace and stabilization program framework, the Danish side purchased products worth 403,000 US dollars, which will be used to equip the new center of simulations, communication, and information systems of JTEC. Within the program's framework, two units of off-road vehicles (Toyota Land Cruiser) and necessary computer equipment and equipment for the center were purchased.