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Non-US Forces in Iraq - 25 February 2005

The size and capabilities of the Coalition forces involved in operations in Iraq has been a subject of much debate, confusion, and at times exageration. As of February 25, 2004, with the deployment of 46 troops from the Republic of Armenia, and the pullout of Portugal, there were 27 non-U.S. military forces participating in the coalition and contributing to the ongoing stability operations throughout Iraq. These countries were Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Georgia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, United Kingdom, Ukraine, and the Kingdom of Tonga. As of October 15, 2004, the MNF-I website incorrectly included Honduras in the list; that country's troops returned in late May. It also incorrectly list the Dominican Republic; its troops left in early-May. The MNF-I listing also omits the Kingdom of Tonga who deployed 45 Royal Marines in early July to Iraq.

Hungary completely pulled its troops out of Iraq by December 22. Portugal withdrew its contingent of policemen after hvaing been in Iraq for 15 months. Fiji deployed 150 troops to Iraq, but they are there under UN banner (UNAMI) and are therefore not be counted in the coalition. Singapore deployed a shipt to the Persian Gulf on Nov. 27, but since the country does not actually contribute troops on the ground in Iraq, it is not being included in the coalition count. Armenia deployed 46 troops to Iraq in mid-January 2005.

Countries which had troops in or supported operations in Iraq at one point but have pulled out since: Nicaragua (Feb. 2004); Spain (late-Apr. 2004); Dominican Republic (early-May 2004); Honduras (late-May 2004); Philippines (~Jul. 19, 2004); Thailand (late-Aug. 2004); New Zealand (late Sep. 04); Hungary (end Dec. 04); Portugal (mid-Feb. 2005).

Countries planning to withdraw from Iraq: Poland (starting Jan.05 and completed by end.05(?)); the Netherlands (Mar. 05); Bulgaria (end of 2005, depending on circumstances).

Countries which have reduced or are planning to reduce their troop commitment: Ukraine (-200); Moldova (reduced contingent to 12); Norway (reduced from ~150 to 10 late-Jun.04, early Jul.04); Bulgaria (-50, Dec.04); Poland (-700, Feb.05); Ukraine (entire contingent, 1st half of 2005).

Countries planning or rumored to be planning to increase troop contingent to Iraq: Georgia (+550(unknown number for security for UN)); Romania (rumor, 100+ in support of UNAMI); Albania (+130); Thailand (200(?)).

Countries supporting UNAMI: Fiji (150+); Georgia (500)

Countries with other contribution, but no troops in Iraq: Singapore (LST ship with 180-person crew in Persian Gulf).

Countries refusing to send troops because of security situation: Pakistan.

Recent developments

• On Feb. 22, Australia announced that it would deploy an additional 450 troops to Iraq and would leave for Iraq within 10 weeks for an indefinite amount of time. The units are to be reportedly drawn from the 2nd Calvary Regiment and 5/7 RAR of the Darwin-based 1st Brigade and would include a Infantry company, a cavalry squadron and 40 or so LAVs. The unit would deploy for six-months to the Muthanna area. In addition, the deployment is expected to cost AU$300 million a year
• Xinhua reported on Feb. 21, that Denmark had rotated its contingent of troops in Iraq that weekend at Camp Danevang, inside the British Shaiba Log Base; its fifth contingent to be rotated in.
• A Feb. 17 MNF-I release reported that the fourth rotation of troops from El Salvador had taken place the day prior. AFP Reported on Feb. 10, that the unit was with the 4th Cuscatlan Battalion.
• BBC Monitoring reported on Feb. 17, that the Romania was deploying troops for its IV Engineer detachment to Iraq.
• The Italian Parliament voted on Feb. 16, to extend the deployment of its contingent to Iraq through June.
• According to a BBC Monitoring report from Feb. 14, the 2nd Infantry Battalion from Romania had relaced the 812th Infantry Battalion at camp Mittica at Tallil Air Base. On Feb. 9, it reported that the new unit was the 2nd Calugareni Battalion.
• AFP reported that Portugal would have withdrawn its troops from Iraq by Feb. 12. They left Iraq on Feb. 10, two days ahead of schedule
• According to a BBC Monitoring report from on Feb. 11, that Romania would send in March a new infantry Battalion to Iraq, thereby boosting the size of its contingent in Iraq.
• BBC Monitoring International Reports reported on Feb. 2, that Romania was rotating its MP company in Nasiriyah.
• A Baltic News Service report from Jan. 31, reported that there were some 120 Lithuanian troops in Iraq, with approximately 50 in both the British- and Polish-controlled sectors and another dozen or so at command posts in Baghdad, Babylon and Basrah.
• ITAR-TASS, relayed by BBC Monitoring, reported on Jan. 29, that Georgia would deploy an additional 550 troops to Iraq in February. Part of the contingent would provide security to UN offices in Iraq, while the remainder would operate as part of coalition forces. No additional specifics were available
• ITAR-TASS reported on Jan. 28, that Russia's First Deputy Defense Minister had announced that the country would not send to Iraq its newly formed, 2,500-men strong, airborne-peacekeeping brigade.
• BBC Monitoring reported on Jan. 27, that the 400+ tropps from Romania's Capathian Hawks(812th Infantry Battalion) had begun redeploying home.
• On Jan. 27, the British MoD announced that it would need deploy an additional 200 troops to make up for the planned departure of the contingent from the Netherlands in March 2005. By then the number of British troops in Iraq was nevertheless expected to have been reduced following the Jan. 30 Iraqi elections
• A BBC Monitoring report from Jan. 25, reported that Romania had begun rotating troops for its contingent in Iraq and that the total number of Romanian troops in Iraq stood at 730.
• BBC Monitoring Europe reported on Jan. 21, that the Bulgarian President, Georgi Purvanov, had in his address to the National Assembly, declared that while Bulgaria should withdraw its contingent from Iraq, it should not do so hastily. He called on the National Assembly to fix the end of 2005 as a deadline, while keeping open the possibility of extending it depending on UN, EU, or NATO involvement in Iraq.
• MNF-I announced on Jan. 21, that a contingent of 46 Armenian soldiers had joined Multi-National Division Central - South. The troops were to become a part of the logistics battalion located in the city of Al-Hilla and be tasked with transportation and explosive ordnance disposal tasks.
• BBC Monitoring reported on Jan. 18, that Lithuania woud not consider withdrawing its contingent of troops from Iraq until the end of 2005. The size of its contingent in Iraq is capped at 120.
• BBC Monitoring reported on Jan. 17, that Armenia's contingent of 46 troops would leave the follwoing day for Iraq.
• BBC Monitoring reported on Jan. 10, that Georgia would deploy between Jan. 10-20, another contingent of 500 troops from the Shavnabada Battalion, the 3rd Battalion of the 11th Brigade. After a 2 week acclimatation period in Kuwait, the unit was expected to deploy to Baghdad, Iraq, mainly to provide security to UN offices there.
• On Jan. 10, 2005, the outgoing Ukrainian President, Leonid Kuchma, tasked his government's defense and foreign ministers to begin planning for the withdrawal of Ukraine's contingent from Iraq in the first half of 2005. Interfax reported that the 72nd Battalion mighe depart Iraq in the March-April timeframe, with the remaining Ukraininan troops being withdraw in the following two or three months.
• The United Kingdom announced on January 10, 2005, that it would deploy more troops to Iraq in order to help boost security support for the upcoming Iraqi elections. The UK would deploy an additional 400 troops from the 1st Battalion, "The Royal Highland Fusiliers," "for a limited period of time" as security reinforcements. The Cyprus-based battalion, known as the "Extremely High Readiness Reserve battalion," would deploy to Iraq to join Multinational Division (Southeast).
• According to a Jan. 7 Agence France Press report, Lithuania's Foreign Minister was quoted as saying that day that the country was considering withdrawing its troops after the elections.
• BBC Monitoring reported on Jan. 6, that 169 Polish troops left for Iraq. It also reported that the troops from Poland's 3rd rotation of troops to Iraq would be returning home over that weekend and that the new contingent was expected to number 1,700 troops.
• BBC Monitoring Europe reported on Jan. 4, 2005, that a farewell ceremony had been held that day for the next contingent of Polish troops to deploy to Iraq. According to the report, 1,700 troops from the 11th Lubusz Armoured Division would deploy to Iraq, in addition to 200 men from the 1st Pomeranian Logistics Brigade. The latter were to be deployed specifically for the Iraqi Elections. Poland's Deputy Minister of National Defence, Janusz Zemke, was quoted as saying that Poland would reduce its contingent of troops from 2,500 to 1,700 after the Iraqi elections.
• The South Korean parliament voted on Dec. 31 to extend the deployment of its contingent in Iraq for a period of one year.
• AAP Newsfeed reported on Dec. 29, 2004, that elements of the Brisbane-based 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment; the Darwin-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment; and the Sydney-based 1st Military Police Battalion had deployed that day for Iraq to provide securirty for the Australian embassy there. The security detachment there was reported to number a total of 120 personel.
• Associated Press reported on Dec. 24, that Armenia's Parliament had approved that day by a vote of 91-23 the deployment of a contingent of 46 troops to Iraq. The troops's role would ostensibly only be to only conduct humanitarian operations. They would be assigned to the Polish Area of Responsibility. It was not exacly clear when the troops would be deployed, though it could happen as early as January 2005.