NATO drills in Georgia are aimed at exerting pressure over Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday. “We cannot agree with the statements of the Georgian Defense Ministry that these drills are aimed at providing security in the Black Sea region,” she said. “It is clear that their current task is to project power pressure, chiefly over South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Russia,” she said, adding that these exercises result in “bolstering military sentiments and the escalation of tensions.” The joint drills of the 13 members and partners of NATO, dubbed Noble Partner 2018, kicked off on August 1 at the Vaziani Military Base in Georgia, TASS reported. More than 3,000 servicemen are taking part in the maneuvers, according to the Georgian Defense Ministry.