U.S. and Georgia Start Military Exercise Criticized by Russia
Source: The New York Times
VAZIANI MILITARY BASE, Georgia — Hundreds of American and Georgian service members stood at attention on this former Soviet airfield on Monday, as the two countries began joint military exercises to bolster cooperation between Georgian forces and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
About 300 American soldiers accompanied by 14 Bradley tanks, transported across the Black Sea from Romania, are in Georgia for the two-week training exercise, called Noble Partner.
Under President Vladimir V. Putin, Russia has virulently criticized military exercises on its borders, and at the opening ceremony on Monday, Georgian politicians and American diplomats sought to pre-empt any Russian claims of provocation.
“This training is not directed at anyone or any direct threat,” meaning Russia, said Georgia’s prime minister, Irakli Garibashvili, addressing a crowd of about a hundred diplomats and military officers on Monday.
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/12/world/europe/us-and-georgia-start-military-exercise-criticized-by-russia.html