The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia expresses serious concern about the holding of another large-scale military exercise of the NATO countries "Noble Partner 2020" in Georgia. The military exercise in the Georgia-NATO format will involve several thousand military personnel using heavy military equipment, aircraft and ships of the US Navy.

The systematic increase in the scale and intensity of the operational training of the Georgian armed forces, through the conduct of such joint exercises, where Georgian servicemen have the opportunity to build up their combat potential and acquire additional skills in conducting combat operations, causes serious concern. Such a regular practice of conducting large-scale military exercise on the territory of Georgia poses a serious threat to peace and stability in the region and undermines the efforts of the existing international formats aimed at resolving existing conflicts.

We would like to remind you that because of such a shortsighted and dangerous policy of Western countries, actively promoting the process of militarization of Georgia, there was a significant increase in revanchist sentiments in Georgia, which prompted the Georgian authorities to decide to start military aggression in August 2008.

As a symmetrical response to the destructive actions of Georgia and its Western partners, the Abkhazian side intends to follow the path of strengthening military-technical cooperation with the Russian Federation, to ensure the defense capability and security of the Republic of Abkhazia.

In view of the above, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia regards the actions of Georgia, the United States and other NATO member states as openly provocative and aimed at destabilizing the situation in the South Caucasus. In the event of a possible escalation of tension in the zone of unresolved conflicts, full responsibility for the possible negative consequences lies with Georgia, the United States and NATO.