An inter-agency practical field exercise, NEXUS Georgia 2026, targeting chemical and biological threats, was conducted in Batumi through a joint initiative between the State Security Service of Georgia [SSSG] and the US Defence Threat Reduction Agency [DTRA].

Participants included representatives from state agencies responsible for CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) security. Key institutions involved were specialised units from the State Security Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, and the Ministry of Finance.

As part of the training, participating agencies were allowed to respond to chemical and biological incidents simulated across three distinct scenarios in real-world settings. This allowed them to test existing standard operating procedures in practice and pinpoint specific shortcomings in incident response and inter-agency coordination.

Following the field-practical exercise, targeted recommendations will be formulated to resolve identified challenges.

Furthermore, new projects and training modules will be initiated with the support of partner nations. Another simulation exercise will take place on 8 September in Mtskheta, focusing on practical response protocols for chemical and explosive threats in crowded public spaces. The SSSG maintains a long-standing and highly successful partnership with the US Defence Threat Reduction Agency. DTRA provides substantial support towards developing Georgia`s security sector and enhancing its resilience, including through strengthening national capabilities to prevent and respond to CBRN threats.