Georgian Coast Guard to participate in Sea Breeze 2021 navy drills
Georgian Coast Guard to participate in Sea Breeze 2021 navy drills

Georgian Coast Guard participate in the Sea Breeze 2021 annual multinational maritime exercise. The navy drills kick off on June 28 and continue through July 10 in the Black Sea region.

Representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and Defense Ministry (MoD) partake in the exercise. According to the MIA, two patrol ships Dioskuria and Ochamchire, are involved in the drills. The Special Operations Forces Dive Team will participate in a naval diving exercise in the port of Odesa. Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) is also taking part in the maritime exercise.

The annual drills hold amphibious warfare, land manoeuvre warfare, diving operations, maritime interdiction operations, air defence, special operations integration, anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue operations involve sea, land, and air components. It aims to enhance interoperability among the participating forces and increase the joint capabilities to ensure regional maritime security.

Exercise 21st iteration involves the highest number of participating thirty-two nations from six continents providing 5,000 troops, 32 ships, 40 aircraft, and 18 special operations and dive teams to the exercise.

The multinational maritime exercise Sea Breeze has been taking place in the Black Sea since 1997. Georgia has participated in the exercise since the very first year.