Three flags, one training ground and a clear message: defence cooperation in the South Caucasus remains firmly on track. Elite special operations units from Georgia, Türkiye and Azerbaijan have gathered in Mukhrovani for the latest edition of the Caucasian Eagle military exercise.
The opening ceremony for Caucasian Eagle 2026 took place at the Major Gela Chedia Special Operations Training Centre in Mukhrovani, bringing together special operations forces from Georgia, Türkiye and Azerbaijan for one of the region's most enduring military partnerships.
Senior officials attended the event, including Georgia's First Deputy Minister of Defence, Paata Patiashvili, Turkish Ambassador Mustafa Türker Arı and Azerbaijani Ambassador Faig Guliyev. Their presence highlighted the broader political importance of the exercise beyond its military objectives.
Major General Irakli Chichinadze, Deputy Chief of the Georgian Defence Forces, addressed participating troops alongside Colonel Teimuraz Klateishvili, Commander of Georgia's Special Operations Forces, and deputy military attachés from Türkiye and Azerbaijan. The atmosphere was described as one of professional cooperation and shared purpose.
The exercise centres on small-unit tactical operations requiring rapid decision-making and close coordination. Special forces personnel from the three countries will take part in a series of joint scenarios designed to improve interoperability, enabling units to communicate, plan and operate effectively together regardless of national affiliation.
A joint evaluation team comprising assessors from Georgia, Türkiye and Azerbaijan will monitor performance and progress throughout the exercise.
Caucasian Eagle is not a new initiative. The exercise has been held annually for several years, rotating between the three participating countries. Georgia last hosted the drills in 2022, Azerbaijan staged the exercise in 2024, and the 2025 edition was held in Ankara.
Its return to Mukhrovani reflects the growing importance of the training centre as a hub for advanced military exercises and international defence cooperation.
For Georgia, the exercise forms part of a broader commitment to regional security cooperation. Despite shifting geopolitical dynamics across the South Caucasus, defence collaboration with Türkiye and Azerbaijan has remained a consistent feature of Tbilisi's foreign policy.
While organisers have not yet announced the host nation for the next edition, the established rotation suggests Caucasian Eagle is likely to continue in 2027, further strengthening defence ties among the three partners.
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