DISINFO: Exercises Agile Spirit are destroying regional stability and addressed exclusively to Russia
SUMMARY
Multinational exercises Agile Spirit in Georgia are destroying regional stability, pushing the peoples of the South Caucasus to enmity and war, and serve the interests of the United States and its NATO allies.
Agile Spirit's 2021 declarative goal of increasing interoperability between the troops of the 15 participating countries does not hold water...Obviously, the real purpose of the exercises is the study of the regional theatre of military operations by the American military command, new provocations against Russia and its allies in the South Caucasus. It is enough to look at the geographical map of the Caucasus to understand that the next demonstration of strength by the United States and partners is addressed exclusively to Russia.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative, claiming that the US/NATO are waging an aggressive campaign against Russia and using Georgia and other countries for that purpose.
Russia considers any military exercises of neighbouring countries as a threat. Every nation has the right to conduct exercises, but it is important that they are conducted transparently and in line with international obligations.
In reality, the Agile Spirit exercises are not aimed against Russia. Agile Spirit is a biennial, joint, multinational exercise co-led by the Georgian Defense Forces and U.S. Army Europe and Africa. Military personnel from allied and partner forces normally participate in the exercise. These include Georgia (host nation), Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Italy, and Azerbaijan.
According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Georgia, Agile Spirit 2021 is aimed to increase interoperability between NATO member and partner countries' military, strengthen operational capabilities during the planning and execution of operations in a multinational environment, as well as develop multinational preparedness and cooperation in security:
“Agile Spirit 2021 supports regional stability and security, develops [NATO] member and partner states’ capabilities to more effectively respond to regional crises and challenges. That’s why the exercise’s main message is - “strength is in unity,” reads the MoD statement.