(Civil) - Georgia is in talks with the U.S. partners to increase its military presence in Iraq, but no exact number of additional troops Tbilisi will send is yet defined, according to the Georgian Ministry of Defense.
"We know that the number of Georgian troops will be increased, but exact numbers, as well as date of new deployment is a matter of current negotiations," Nana Intskirveli, a spokesperson of the Georgian Defense Ministry, told Civil.Ge on March 9.
But BBC reported on March 9 that Georgia plans to increase number of its troops in Iraq up to 2 000.
Georgia now has 850 servicemen as part of the coalition forces in Iraq, making Georgia number two contributor to the coalition forces in terms of per capita troop deployment after the United States.
If the report about plans to increase number of troops up to 2 000 is confirmed, it will make Georgia number one contributor in terms of per capita troop deployment.
A total of 18 Georgian servicemen have been injured in Iraq since August, 2003, when Georgia first started to contribute to coalition forces there.
About 100 Georgian servicemen are deployed in Kosovo with the German-led brigade.
President Saakashvili said that Georgia will send troops to Afghanistan as well to contribute to NATO-led forces there.