NATO Vessels Enter Batumi to Participate in Joint Exercises with Georgia

On October 25, two vessels of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) entered the port of Georgia’s coastal city of Batumi.

The ships ITS Vesuvio (Italy) and TCG Amasra (Turkey) entered Batumi after when U.S. military ship USS Porter left the port.

The Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two is led by Captain Alessandro Falcone.

The military crew was met by Batumi Mayor Lasha Komakhidze, Consul General of Turkey - Makbule Kochak, Chairman of Government of Ajara Tornike Rizhvadze and Head of Border Police of Ministry of Internal Affairs Temur Kekelidze.

The vessels will stay in Georgian waters for three days to participate in various joint trainings and exercises organized by Georgia.

Joint maneuvers, submarine security operations and tactical group exercises are the key practices that the Coast Guard of the Ministry of Internal Affairs will undergo during the exercises along with SNMCMG2.

SNMCMG2 is one of four standing NATO groups which are multinational, integrated maritime forces made up of vessels from Allied countries.  

Related Story: The USS Porter Visits Batumi Port

By Ana Dumbadze