Georgia and NATO marked the 10th anniversary of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP) at the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre (JTEC) near Tbilisi, on 17 September 2024, at a ceremony attended by senior officials from NATO and Georgia.
Since its launch at the NATO Wales Summit in 2014, the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package has played a pivotal role in helping to build Georgia’s defence capacity, strengthen its resilience, and promote Georgian forces’ ability to operate effectively alongside Allied troops. Georgia’s Minister of Defence, Mr. Irakli Chikovani, underscored that the SNGP is a cornerstone of NATO-Georgia cooperation and brings Georgia closer to NATO. He highlighted tangible progress achieved in enhancing Georgia’s security and defence capabilities, and expressed appreciation for the support and contributions from NATO Allies and partners.
NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Operations, Ms. Burcu San, reaffirmed that the SNGP is a flagship of NATO-Georgia cooperation, highlighting its evolution and achievements. She also referred to NATO’s Strategic Concept of 2022, which upholds the decisions made at the 2008 Bucharest Summit regarding Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations and eventual membership in the Alliance. In this context, she emphasised the importance of Georgia’s adherence to NATO’s core values. Ms. San further reaffirmed NATO’s support to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, within internationally recognised borders. She also noted that the South Caucasus and the Black Sea region are significantly impacted by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and by Moscow’s other malign and destabilising activities.
Major General Norbert Wagner, Commander of NATO’s Joint Force Training Centre, highlighted the strategic importance of the SNGP for strengthening Georgia’s defence and security capabilities and supporting its path towards NATO membership.
Three major accomplishments of the SNGP were highlighted.
First, the successful completion of the Acquisition initiative in December 2023. Launched in 2015, this initiative culminated with the Georgian Parliament’s adoption of new procurement laws, set to take effect on 1 January 2025. The initiative has delivered a modern, efficient, and accountable defence and security procurement system, fully aligned with international standards. Second, the Defence Institution Building School (DIBS) has been established and continues to develop.
Following its NATO accreditation, DIBS is currently delivering NATO-standard training programmes designed to strengthen Georgia’s defence and security institutions. Efforts are underway to position DIBS as a leading centre for capacity-building across the broader Black Sea region. Finally, the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre focuses on enhancing interoperability, strengthening defence capabilities, and fostering national, regional, and international cooperation, and is further developing into a regional hub for military training and evaluation of best practices.
During the ceremony, Mr. Aemal Bahadur was introduced as the new NATO SNGP Core Team Leader, succeeding Colonel Norbert Hess from Germany, who was honoured with the Georgian Ministry of Defence’s Noble Partner Medal for his contributions.
During her visit, the Deputy Assistant Secretary General also held bilateral meetings with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Teimuraz Janjalia, Deputy Minister of Defence Mr. Paata Patiashvili, and Allied Ambassadors accredited in Tbilisi.
