Georgia and Black Sea Security

The Black Sea region is experiencing a changing military balance. The six littoral states (Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine) intensified their efforts to build up their military potential after Russia’s takeover of Crimea and the start of the internationalized civil war in eastern Ukraine  in 2014.

Georgia revised its defence policy significantly after the fighting between Georgia and Russia in South Ossetia in August 2008. Since then, Georgia has continued to perceive Russia’s foreign policy as aggressive and a major threat to its security. Georgia views membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union as strategic priorities. Georgia actively participates in and supports NATO activities in the Black Sea region, which it sees as a means to ensure stability in the region.