Georgian soldiers leave for Afghanistan equipped with Made in Georgia
On April 24th, Georgia sent off its seventh deployment of soldiers to NATO’s Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan. One hundred Georgian soldiers from the 11th battalion of the 1st infantry brigade and 21st battalion from the 2nd infantry brigade have left for the NATO peace mission in Afghanistan equipped with bulletproof vests and armor helmets made in Georgia by the State Military Scientific-Technical Center Delta.
This is the first time Georgian soldiers left for the NATO peace mission with war equipment made in Georgia. The war equipment is in full line with NATO standards and the cost of the products, paid for by the Ministry of Defense, is more than $2 million.
Georgian defense officials and acting US Ambassador to Georgia praised the Georgian soldiers’ role in the NATO Resolute Support Mission. “The United States has worked with Georgia in Afghanistan for the past eight years. We know about the bravery and reliability of Georgia’s soldiers on the battlefield. Your valor, sacrifice, and honor protect peace around the world. We are in your debt. You work as ambassadors for peace far away from your families. We will never take your service for granted. We are truly brothers- and sisters-in-arms. It is with sincere admiration for Georgia that I wish you God’s speed during your deployment and a safe return to your proud and beautiful homeland,” an acting US Ambassador to Georgia Elizabeth Rood addressed the Georgian army soldiers.
Last year, the top US commander in Afghanistan, Army General John Nicholson thanked Georgia’s contribution to military efforts in Afghanistan as a non-NATO member state at the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. Stressing the importance of US partner-countries fighting for peace and security in Afghanistan, Nicholson mentioned Georgia’s impressive contribution to the coalition’s fighting force with the highest number of soldiers.
Georgia is the largest per-capita and non-NATO contributor to the Resolute Support mission with 885 troops in Afghanistan.