American tanks in Putin's 'backyard': US and British soldiers join the Georgian army on two weeks of military drills - angering Russia

The Georgian army has begun twoweeks of military exercises with the United States and Britain - despite Russia's anger as American tanks rolled into its backyard.

Hundreds of soldiers gathered at the military base of Vaziani - once used by Russia, just outside the capital Tbilisi - for the opening ceremony of the exercise, dubbed 'Noble Partner 2016'.

As the sky filled with paratroopers while some 650 American, 150 British and 500 Georgian soldiers watched on in front of a fleet of tanks, Moscow's anger was almost palpable.

Last week, it said the decision to hold the exercise on its doorstep was 'provocative' and 'aimed at deliberately rocking the military-political situation in the South Caucasus'.

The Russian Foreign Ministry went as far as to accuse the United States - which has also dispatched an entire mechanised company, including eight Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and, for the first time, eight M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks - was indulging the 'revanchist desires of Tbilisi'.

It is a charge which Georgia has strongly denied.

'These exercises are not directed against anyone. There isno trace of provocation,' Georgia's Prime Minister GeorgyKvirikashvili said in a statement.

Georgia's Defence Minister Tina Khidasheli said the drillswere an important event for the South Caucasus republic.

'This is one of the biggest exercises that our country hasever hosted, this is the biggest number of troops on the ground,and the largest concentration of military equipment,' Khidasheli said.

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