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Georgia and Black Sea Security

bp_1812_black_sea_georgia
December 2018
SIPRI

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.

Table of contents

I. Background

II. Defence policy

III. Armed forces structure

IV. Armed forces deployment

V. Military spending

VI. Arms holdings and acquisitions

VII. Conclusions

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S)/EDITORS

Alexandra Kuimova Alexandra Kuimova is a Researcher with UNIDIR’s Conventional Arms and Ammunition Programme. She was previously a Researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme.
Siemon T. Wezeman is a Senior Researcher in the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme.