Editing Defence Forces of Georgia (section)

==History of the Defence Forces==
{{main article|Georgian–Armenian War 1918|Georgian–Ossetian conflict (1918–1920)|Red Army invasion of Georgia|1991–1992 South Ossetia War|War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)|Russo-Georgian War|Military history of Georgia}}

=== Establishment and early years ===
On 20 December 1990, President [[Zviad Gamsakhurdia]] ordered the creation of what is now the Defence Forces. In January 1991, Soviet President [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] and Supreme Soviet Chairman [[Anatoly Lukyanov]], demanded that Gamsakhurdia to stop the creation of the [[National Guard of Georgia|National Guard]]. The first military parade of the National Guard was held at [[Boris Paichadze Stadium]] on 30 April 1991, where for the first time in 70 years, Georgians swore allegiance to the Georgian people.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2017-05-01|title=ქართული ჯარის დიდი დღე|url=https://on.ge/story/10303-%E1%83%A5%E1%83%90%E1%83%A0%E1%83%97%E1%83%A3%E1%83%9A%E1%83%98-%E1%83%AF%E1%83%90%E1%83%A0%E1%83%98%E1%83%A1-%E1%83%93%E1%83%98%E1%83%93%E1%83%98-%E1%83%93%E1%83%A6%E1%83%94|access-date=2021-03-14|website=On.ge|language=ka}}</ref> This day is today commemorated as Defence Forces Day.<ref>{{Cite web|title=georgianpress.ge – 1991 წლის 30 აპრილს ქართული გვარდიის პირველი აღლუმი პრეზიდენტმა ზვიად გამსახურდიამ ჩაიბარა|url=http://georgianpress.ge/com/news/view/13598?lang=1|access-date=2021-03-14|website=საინფორმაციო სააგენტო – Georgian Press}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The new military was mainly manned by volunteers as well as ethnically Georgian officers who were serving in [[Soviet Army]] at the time. The transfer of former [[Transcaucasian Military District]] facilities, weapons and formations located in Georgia, which began in early 1992, lasted until 1997. On 30 April 1992, an agreement was signed on the transfer of military units and facilities by the heads of the defence ministries of the Russian Federation and Georgia. According to it, Georgia received the following formations:<ref name="ГА">{{cite book| author = Авакян Г. |chapter-url=http://cast.ru/files/d524_1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050501100732/http://www.cast.ru/files/d524_1.pdf |archive-date=2005-05-01 |url-status=live |script-chapter=ru:Вооружая Кавказ: Нечаянное наследие Москвы |script-title=ru:Кавказ: вооружён и разобщён |editor=Матвеевой А. |editor2=Хизкока Д. |location=Moscow |date = 2004 |publisher=Просветитель |pages=163–173}}</ref>

* 10th Armoured Division (without 403rd Motorized Rifle Regiment) – [[Akhaltsikhe]]
* 6th Fortified Area – Akhaltsikhe
* 8th Fortified Area 
During the [[Georgian Civil War]], units waged war with supporters of the ousted Gamsakhurdia. The Georgian Armed Forces also took part in the [[1991–1992 South Ossetia War]] and the [[War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)]], losing both, after which Georgia lost control over most of the territory of these republics.

=== 21st century ===
The [[Georgia Train and Equip Program]] (GTEP) training was conducted using [[U.S. Special Operations Forces]] and [[U.S. Marine Corps]] forces from May 2002 to May 2004. During this time approximately 2,600 Georgian soldiers, including a headquarters staff element and 5 tactical units, received training. Another assistance program, the [[Georgia Security and Stability Operations Program]] (Georgia SSOP), was launched in January 2005 as a continuation of the (GTEP) of 2002–2004. [[Georgian Kosovo contingent|Georgian contingents]] were involved in the [[Kosovo Force]] and continue to participate in the operations in [[Iraq]] and [[Afghanistan]].

The DFG have been extensively reformed in the recent years to meet Georgia's aspirations to join NATO and for better response to the existing challenges such as the ongoing tensions in the unresolved separatist conflict areas in [[Abkhazia]] and [[South Ossetia]] as well as to the threats of global terrorism. Georgia also views a large-scale foreign invasion and the spillover of conflicts from Russia's [[North Caucasus]] as the worst potential near- and long-term scenarios, respectively.<ref>The Strategic Defense Review (2007), p. 77.</ref>

On 8 August 2008 the Georgian military conducted an operation in Georgia's breakaway region [[South Ossetia]] (see [[2008 South Ossetia War]]) in response to separatist attacks. The operation led to an armed conflict with forces from the [[Russian Federation]] and resulted in the defeat and expulsion of Georgian forces from South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Following the military operations, Russia recognized independence of the regions.

The military budget of Georgia increased from $411.83 million in 1991 to $1.07 billion in 2008. Currently the budget is $398.92 million.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Herre |first=Bastian |last2=Arriagada |first2=Pablo |date=2013-09-02 |title=Military Personnel and Spending |url=https://ourworldindata.org/military-personnel-spending |journal=Our World in Data |language=en}}</ref>

=== Russo-Georgian War ===
{{main article|Russo-Georgian War}}
In August 2008, following a series of fierce clashes in [[South Ossetia]], Georgia attempted to re-take the separatist territory by force. In the resulting military conflict with [[Russia]], Georgia was driven out of South Ossetia and [[Abkhazia]], and lost parts of its military capabilities. Russian forces sank four Georgian naval vessels in the port of Poti and hauled away nine rigid-hull inflatable boats. Georgia Land Forces lost approximately 30 T-72's, 6 BMP's, 2 BTR's and around 10 artillery pieces of all types in combat. The Russians also captured 5 intact BMP's, approximately 5 artillery pieces, BUK SAM system and OSA SAM system. The Georgian Air Force lost three [[AN-2]]'s, 2 [[Mil Mi-24|Mi-24]]'s and 1 [[Mil Mi-14|Mi-14]] on the ground. Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia lost 2 [[Elbit Hermes 450|Hermes 450]] reconnaissance drones and 1 [[Otokar Cobra]] APC. The Russian military lost more military equipment in combat than Georgia.

=== Reconstruction ===
Georgia immediately began a process of re-armament after the war. The conflict was immediately followed by a replenishment program of the gaps in the single GAF arms components with an additional massive re-equipment and modernization program. Two Georgian naval vessels sunk in [[Poti]] were raised and returned to service.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/gavinsblog/2909836113/sizes/m/in/set-72157607708120897/ |title=Tutte le dimensioni &#124;IMG_0721 &#124; Flickr – Condivisione di foto! |publisher=Flickr.com |access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref> The Georgian Navy's remaining operational units were merged into the Coast Guard, which received training in search and seizure tactics from the [[United States]]{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}. [[Ukraine]] supplied Georgia with 30 [[BTR-70]] armored personnel carriers, 2 [[Buk missile system|BUK]] SAM system batteries and 6 [[9K33 Osa|OSA]] mobile SAM systems{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}. [[Israel]] supplied Georgia with 13 [[Wolf Armoured Vehicle|Wolf APC]]'s and [[SPYDER|SPYDER-SR]] SAM systems and many types of firearms{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}. The U.S. supplied Georgia with many types of infantry equipment to Georgia such as infantry personal protection equipment, firearms, APC's and anti tank missiles. Georgia has also received [[Man-portable air-defense system|MANPADs]] and radars from [[France]]{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}. NATO militaries also often train with Georgian military and have annual military drills in Georgia. Georgia also rebuilt its damaged military bases and constructed more military barracks. By late 2010 the Georgian military had reached a strength greater than pre-war levels and, after completing the reforms, decisively reduced military spending. Beginning in 2010, Georgia started to produce its own line of APC's, IFV's, infantry personal protection equipment, small arms and mortars.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}