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.
Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are drawing up a new programme aimed at boosting bilateral trade to $1 billion by 2030, as the two countries move to deep...
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom ...
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to res...
The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are drawing up a new programme aimed at boosting bilateral trade to $1 billion by 2030, as the two countries move to deepen economic and industrial ties.
Syria says it assured Israel that Türkiye had no plans to establish a military presence at the Abu al-Duhur airbase before Israeli forces struck the site on Tuesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued his strongest warning yet over Türkiye's growing military role in Syria, saying Israel will not accept Turkish forces expanding their presence further south.
Azerbaijan’s support for Ukraine could provide a model for neighbouring countries seeking to strengthen their sovereignty, the director of development at an organisation supporting Ukraine’s armed forces has told AnewZ.
Two days inside Uzbekistan’s newsrooms, hospitals, factories and technology hubs reveal a country eager to show how it is changing — while that transformation is still under way.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment