NATO extends mission in Afghanistan: Georgia stays in

Leaders from the Resolute Support partner countries agreed to continue funding Afghan security forces through 2020. Photo by President’s press office
Agenda.ge, 09 Jul 2016 - 16:55, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgia will continue to participate in a NATO mission in Afghanistan, as the Alliance has decided to extend its Resolute Support Mission beyond 2016.

At the NATO Summit in the Polish capital Warsaw today, leaders from the Resolute Support partner countries agreed to continue funding Afghan security forces through to 2020.

Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili said Georgia would continue to serve in the mission and the country would contribute the same number of troops to the mission it currently offered.

Margvelashvili added his country would remain in Afghanistan "as long as the Resolute Support Mission lasted".

Georgia’s President was one of several international leaders to speak about the mission at the Warsaw Summit. He said despite the country’s territories being occupied, Georgia would continue to send its soldiers to Afghanistan to contribute to the peace mission.

Margvelashvili also reconfirmed Georgia’s aspirations to become a NATO member.

Georgia's President Giorgi Margvelashvili and European Council President Donald Tusk (second left) talk at the NATO Summit in Warsaw, Poland. Photo by the Georgian President's press office.

Before this mission Georgia contributed to the NATO-led International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) operation in Afghanistan from 2004 to 2014. Georgia's efforts were significant - Georgia was the largest troop contributor among non-NATO states.

After this Georgia continued to serve in other NATO-led operations in Afghanistan and since 2015 the country has participated in the Resolute Support Mission, where it was the second largest troop contributor state after the US.