May 16, 2026, 1pm EST
Georgia has a long martial tradition, and many times has successfully defended itself against larger armies. Yet Georgia, subject to imperial occupation and hegemony, was unable for many centuries to establish a united military force of its own. After independence in 1991, Georgia created its own army and defended its own territory in 2008 from a foreign invasion. How important is the Georgian military to the security of the Georgan state? Is it ready to defend the country against the multiple national security threats that face it today?
Host: Amb. Shota Gvineria – Former Ambassador of Georgia to the Kingdom of Netherlands, Defense and Cyber Studies Lecturer, Baltic Defense College
Guests: Tina Khidasheli – Former Minister of Defense of Georgia, Giorgi Shaishmelashvili – Head of Research at Civic IDEA