Nagorno-Karabakh conflict adds extra motivation for Georgian procurement

21st October 2020 - 15:31 GMT | by Eugene Gerden

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The ex-Soviet republic aims for a rapid overhaul of its equipment inventory to NATO standard, but this may actually turn out to be an expensive and lengthy process

The deepening military conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh is causing alarm in Georgia, which shares a border with both countries.

The conflict may spur on the Georgian MoD's efforts to accelerate purchases under its 2019-2022 armed forces procurement programme. The republic wants to replace obsolescent Soviet-era equipment with NATO-standard materiel.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia in early October, to discuss the prospects of Georgia joining the alliance.

These talks will continue until the end of 2020, Shephard understands.

However, the government set a defence budget of just GEL880 …