Exercise planning, courses, joint SOF training

On Tuesday, General Dr. Gábor Böröndi met with Lieutenant General Giorgi Matiasvili, Chief of Georgian Defence Forces (GDF) to review regional security challenges and favorable developments in defence cooperation. The Chief of the HDF Defence Staff was also received, on a courtesy call, by Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Chikovani.

As part of his program, General Dr. Gábor Böröndi listened to a presentation about the security situation and the force development plan of the GDF, and then visited the NATO-Georgian Joint Training and Evaluation Centre (JTEC).

“The Hungarian Defence Forces see Georgia as a designated strategic partner. The exchange of lessons learned is considered to be important by both sides, but we can learn what is really useful – about the kind of equipment, methods and procedures in use – from a country that has permanent conflicts at this hot spot of the world, the Caucasus” – said General Dr. Gábor Böröndi.

He emphasized that the NATO-established JTEC offers an excellent opportunity for the further training and preparation of Hungarian soldiers. Early on, Hungary already supported the establishment and operation of this centre. “Exercise planning, the mutually provided courses and the joint training of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) give us a very important possibility for cooperation” – he said.

The Chief of Defence pointed out that the issues of personnel supply and recruitment were also among the topics of discussion. The two sides mutually shared their experiences, and agreed on the deepening of long-term cooperation. Working out the details and taking the concrete steps of this cooperation will be the tasks for the coming weeks.