[NATIONAL MILITARY STRATEGY] MINISTRY OF DEFENCE INTRODUCTION This document represents an update of the Military Strategy published in 2005. “National Military Strategy” of Georgia (NMS) reflects new realities facing the Georgian Armed Forces (GAF) as well as existing tendencies within a sphere of defence defined by the strategic defence planning documents. The National Military Strategy is a key military-political document of the country. Based on the “National Security Concept” and the “Threat Assessment Document”, it addresses the national security environment, national interests and major priorities for security policy. It also identifies strategic military objectives, missions and capabilities of the GAF. The changed nature of the security environment that followed the Russian-Georgian war of 2008 posed the necessity to revise existing strategic documents. For this purpose the National Security Review process was initiated under coordination of the National Security Council leading to update of the “National Security Concept”, “Threat Assessment Document for 2007-2009” and the “Strategic Defence Review” (2007). Elaboration of the “National Military Strategy” is also a part of this process. Considering military objectives, missions and capabilities defined in the NMS, the Strategic Defence Review sets out priority development directions for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the GAF conformably to new needs that result from an altered security environment. Legally, the National Military Strategy draws upon the Constitution of Georgia, international treaties and agreements, domestic laws and reflects values, obligations and norms acknowledged by Georgian legislation. The NMS is approved by the Government of Georgia. Elaboration/ revision of the NMS is an obligation established by the Georgian Legislation. The document is being revised upon necessity in case of substantial security environment change and/ or in accordance to security sector policy, priorities or tendencies, to set out new development directions of the GAF. | Introduction 2