Turkey continues its efforts for Afghanistan’s lasting security, through the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission
Brigadier General Selçuk Yurtsızoğlu took over the command of the NATO-led Train, Advise, and Assist Commands – TAAC from Brigadier General Ahmet Yaşar Dener with a ceremony held in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, on 30 March 2021. At the handover ceremony, NATO-led Resolute Support Mission Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Nicola Zanelli delivered the flag to Brigadier General Yurtsızoğlu.
NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo and Turkish Ambassador to Afghanistan Oğuzhan Ertuğrul also attended the ceremony. In his speech, Brigadier General Yurtsızoğlu, who took over his duty, said, “The Training, Advise and Assist Command and the Turkish unit will continue to serve in close cooperation with the Resolute Support Mission and its Afghan counterparts as always.”
Speaking at the ceremony, Lieutenant General Zanelli said, “Your extraordinary effort to train, advise and assist the 111th Capital Division of the Afghan National Army, the Kabul Police station and other security services in Kabul is not only for the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, but at the same time it is also an indication of the success of our Mission. Today I want to thank the entire Resolute Support Mission family for your commitment and effectiveness.”
Turkey provides a vital contribution the Resolute Support Mission with a unit of 600 people.
TAAC is a multinational military formation in the leadership of Turkey which is a part of the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan which consists of the NATO Allies and partners including Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, North Macedonia and the USA.
Established in 2015, the Resolute Support Mission is a NATO-led non-combatant mission to train, advise and assist Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, which took the nationwide responsibility for Afghanistan’s security, which follows the conclusion of the previous NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. The mission’s purpose is to help Afghan security forces and institutions develop their defence capacity in Afghanistan and protect its citizens in a sustainable way.
Military-Financial Cooperation Agreement between Turkey and Afghanistan was signed
On Wednesday, December 9, 2020, the representatives of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Republic of Turkey met in Ankara. During the meeting between the representatives, the Military-Financial Cooperation Agreement and the Financial Aid Application Protocol were signed between the two countries. According to the agreement in question in Turkey, in the period of the next five years, 100 million Turkish liras (about 13 million US dollars) is scheduled to make military equipment assistance in the amount for the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF).
According to the briefing on the issue of Afghanistan’s Embassy in Ankara, it is expressed that Turkey would provide a million dollars on an annual basis for these programs. These new agreements increase the aid that addresses ANDSF’s needs over the next five years to approximately three million annually.
