Multinational special operations exercise Trojan Footprint 2026 opens in Georgia

The multinational special operations exercise Trojan Footprint 2026 has officially opened at the Major Gela Chedia Special Operations Command base in Mukhrovani, eastern Georgia.

Addressing participating troops and invited guests at the opening ceremony, Deputy Chief of the Georgian Defence Forces, Major General Irakli Chichinadze, US Marine Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Rhett Christensen, and Special Operations Commander Colonel Teimuraz Klateishvili highlighted the importance of international military exercises for special operations forces and wished participants success in the drills.

The event was attended by representatives of the Georgian Defence Forces, defence attachés from participating countries and members of the core group of the NATO-Georgia Substantial Package.

Trojan Footprint 2026 is a multinational special operations exercise being conducted simultaneously across Eastern European countries. As part of the programme, Georgia is hosting Black Sea Rotational Force 2026, which includes both land and maritime operations.

Georgia is hosting the exercise for the fourth time. Military personnel from special operations units of Georgia, the United States, Poland, the United Kingdom, Spain and Romania are participating.

Units from the Georgian Defence Forces involved in the drills include the Ranger Battalion of the Special Operations Command, eastern and western special operations battalions, representatives of the Defence Volunteer organisation, National Guard reconnaissance companies and territorial reserve personnel.

The exercise in Georgia is jointly organised by the United States Special Operations Command Europe and the Georgian Defence Forces, under the leadership of the Georgian Special Operations Command.