NATO’s hoped-for goal of reducing the size of its ‘Resolute Support’ mission in Afghanistan looks increasingly tenuous as the country’s security deteriorates, admit allied diplomats and military officials.
“The view across our militaries is unanimous: ‘Resolute Support’ has to be extended. Its strength should not be diminished. The situation there is just too uncertain,” a German military officer told IHS Jane’s during the first day of the 26-27 October Georgia Defence Security Conference in Tbilisi.
The European Union’s (EU’s) assessment is no less sobering: “The past months have seen a serious security situation [involving] renewed terrorist attacks with record numbers of civilian casualties,” EU foreign ministers said after their 26 October meeting in Brussels.
