Georgia to join NATO Response Force in 2015

Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania said Wednesday that the country has decided to join the NATO Response Force (NRF) in 2015 with financial support from the United States. The decision was announced at a joint press conference with Knud Bartels, chairman of the NATO Military Committee, on the second day of the committee's first ever visit to the South Caucasus country, during which talks with Georgian leaders were also held to discuss security, cooperation and Georgia's involvement in NATO's mission in Afghanistan. "It has already been decided that Georgia will become part of the NATO Response Force in 2015 and a sponsor state has already been selected. The United States will ensure readiness along with the NATO military to provide rapid response in case of crisis," said Alasania. Bartels told the assembled press that Georgia has made "solid progress in its defense reforms that will allow cooperation between Georgia and NATO." The NRF, initiated in November 2002, has a joint force of around 13,000 high-readiness troops made up of land, air, maritime and special operations components that the Alliance can deploy quickly wherever needed, according to NATO information.