Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel thanked Norwegian Defense Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide during a phone call yesterday for Norway’s contributions to the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, calling those contributions a visible role that is an important example for other nations, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said.
In a statement summarizing the call, Kirby said Soreide informed Hagel that Norway announced a contribution of a total of nearly 200 additional troops: up to 120 troops for the effort to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Iraq and up to 75 trainers, logisticians and other specialized experts to the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.
“She thanked Secretary Hagel for the excellent cooperation between U.S. Central Command and the Norwegian planning team,” he added, “and noted that the Norwegian special operations forces had gained valuable experience in Afghanistan that they could now apply in Iraq.”
The secretary concluded the meeting by thanking Soreide for her invitation to visit Norway in the coming year, Kirby said.