NATO exercises launch in Georgia

REUTERS

The two-week-long exercises, which began on Wednesday at the Vaziani base, are to focus on peacekeeping and support activities, according to Associated Press.

About 220 U.S. troops are taking part, while platoon-level contingents from Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, and Bulgaria are also present.

Georgia has strongly focused on closer integration with the West and has been a member of the Partnership for Peace program with NATO since 1994.