The Pentagon said it was will "indefinitely postpone" its planned Noble Partner military exercise with Georgia as the United States reviews its relationship with the South Caucasus nation. The review came following Georgia’s June 3 passage of a "foreign agent" law that was assailed in the West over concerns it will stifle media and independent voices. A Pentagon statement said the decision to postpone the exercise, scheduled for July 25 to August 6, is due to "false accusations" against the United States and other Western entities after U.S. criticism of the law and its sanctioning of some Georgian officials. "As such, the United States government has determined that this is an inappropriate time to hold a large-scale military exercise in Georgia," the statement said. The Georgian Defense Ministry called the U.S. decision "regrettable," saying such exercises "benefit Georgia as well as to the United States and its partner countries." To read the original story by RFE/RL’s Georgian Service, click here.
U.S. Calls Off Military Exercise In Georgia Amid Review Of Relations With Tbilisi
U.S. soldiers participate in the 2015 Noble Partner drills in Georgia. The 2024 event has been called off.