Once again, Georgian soldiers deploy for peace and global security. This time, a group of 100 of Georgia’s finest men and women in the military stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Allies deployed on a peacekeeping mission to Afghanistan as part of Operation Resolute Support. The Georgian peacekeepers are taking up their assignment with the added personal sacrifice of being away from Georgia and their families during the Christmas season. In addition, the company of the 1st Infantry Brigade safely returned home after a six month deployment to NATO’s Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Gakharia remarked, “I am grateful to our brave soldiers heading to Afghanistan to participate in the Resolute Support Mission.”
Georgia is the largest non-NATO contributor to NATO and continues to increase NATO participation while NATO officials and other allies encourage full NATO membership for Georgia. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted recently that he was “pleased that Allies and Georgia approved the updated Substantial NATO-Georgia package. Stepping up our political support. And Ministers agreed further steps to improve our situational awareness in the region and strengthen our dialogue.”