NATO and Afghanistan open new chapter of cooperation with launch of Resolute Support mission
Foreign Ministers of NATO and fourteen partner countries decided on Tuesday (2 December 2014) to launch mission Resolute Support as of 1 January 2015 opening a new chapter of cooperation between the Alliance and Afghanistan. The new NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Security Forces will “ensure that we continue to build on the gains we have made in Afghanistan”, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.
“This is a significant moment for us and Afghanistan. Resolute Support will be anon-combat mission. Around 12,000 troops from NATO Allies and partners will train, advise and assist the Afghan National Security Forces”, Mr. Stoltenberg stated.
He said that the participation of President Ghani and Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah at the meeting marks “the start of this new chapter in our cooperation” and shows “the importance that Afghanistan attaches to its partnership with NATO”.
Today’s decision reflects the commitments that NATO Allies and Partners undertook jointly with the Afghan authorities at the NATO Summits in Lisbon (2010), Chicago (2012), and Wales (2014). “We are keeping our commitments,” NATO Secretary General said. “Our new Resolute Support mission is only part of the picture. We will continue to contribute to the funding of the Afghan forces for 2015 and beyond. And we will strengthen the NATO-Afghanistan Enduring Partnership. Today, we agreed to set up a joint task force to take forward the development of this partnership,” Mr. Stoltenberg said.
The United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Nicholas Haysom and the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini also attended the meeting.