The country of Georgia has been sending troops to Afghanistan to support the NATO-led mission since 2004. Over the past year, over 900 Georgian soldiers have been serving in Helmand province, deployed alongside American, British, and Danish troops in one of the most conflict-laden and contested areas of Afghanistan. At a time when many NATO countries, including the United States, are drawing down their forces, Georgia has just added another infantry battalion. This brings the total number of Georgians deployed to Afghanistan to nearly 1,700. Georgia has now surpassed Australia as the largest non-NATO contributor of troops to the coalition’s campaign.  

And unlike some of allies who are better known for what they will not do than what they are willing to do when it comes to battling the insurgency in Afghanistan, the Georgian forces are “caveat” free. In the words of Gen. John Allen, the coalition’s overall commander, Georgia’s troops are “well led…respected by the people and…feared by the enemy.” Some 15 Georgian soldiers have died while serving in Afghanistan.