Georgia: Major-General Bogdan Ritzerski, the new commander of the NATO United Forces Training Center (JFTC), paid a working visit to Georgia on January 17, 2025, Friday.
During his visit, Bogdan Ritserski held a meeting with the Deputy Commander of the Defense Forces, Major General Zaza Chkhaidze, and the General of Training and Military Education, Colonel Zurab Khvichia.
The Ministry of Defense of Georgia shared a video of their discussion on its official Facebook page on January 18, 2025. The ministry also shared a small note along with the video.
According to the information, shared by the the Defense Ministry, the sides reviewed ongoing reforms and future cooperation prospects. They also discussed the capabilities of the Georgian Defense Forces, current reforms, and prospects for future cooperation.
The Ministry also noted that Colonel David Gagua, the Centre’s commander, introduced Ritzerski to the objectives and tasks of the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre in Krtsanisi.
The “NATO-Georgia 2025” study planned in Georgia this year was discussed at the meeting. The parties also celebrated many years of fruitful collaboration between training centers and JFTC’s support in JTEC’s development process.
The NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre started cooperation with the NATO Joint Force Training Centre in Poland in 2017, with a partnership agreement signed in 2020. This cooperation has been instrumental in advancing Georgia’s defense capabilities and strengthening NATO-Georgia relations.
The parties highlighted the “long-standing fruitful cooperation” between the training centers, with Colonel Gagua emphasizing the JFTC’s support in the development of the Joint Training and Evaluation Centre.
It is noteworthy that Georgia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) enjoy cordial relations. Georgia is not currently a member of NATO but has been promised by NATO to be admitted in the future.