East Timor became an independent country from Indonesia on 20 May 2002 when termination of UNTAET took place with the establishment of a successor mission, the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET). Dozens of military aircraft and several vessels from the People's Liberation Army conducted drills near Taiwan on Tuesday, according to the island's ministry of defense. The United Nations Good Offices Mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan (UNGOMAP) was established on 15 May 1988 to support the implementation of the Geneva Accords between Afghanistan and Pakistan and to investigate and report possible violations of any of the provisions of the Agreements. BLACKBURN CALLS TAIWAN A COUNTRY DURING VISIT: Sen. MARSHA BLACKBURN (R-Tenn.) described Taiwan as a "country" in passing during a visit to island, likely to anger China which sees Taiwan as a part of its sovereign territory, The Washington Posts EVA DOU and CHRISTIAN SHEPHERD reported. Peacekeeping missions are a critical tool for promoting peace and reconciliation in conflict zones across the world. UNOSOM II was withdrawn in early March 1995. The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) was established by the Security Council on 28 May 2010 through the adoption of resolution 1925 (2010), to succeed the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC). The Syrian government has constantly expressed its opposition to the US role in Syria, and demanded US forces withdraw. We Have a Real UFO Problem. The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was established by the Security Council on 4 March 1964 through the adoption of resolution 186 (1964), to prevent further fighting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. UKRAINIANS DESCRIBE TORTURE AS POWS: YURI MYKYTENKO, a police officer in the southeastern city of Berdyansk, was held captive by Russians during the war one of the thousands Moscows forces have held since the invasion. The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was established by the Security Council on 29 April 1991 through the adoption of resolution 690 (1991), in accordance with the settlement proposals accepted on 30 August 1988 by Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberacin de Saguia el-Hamra y de Ro de Oro (Frente POLISARIO). While youre at it, follow the rest of POLITICOs national security team: @nahaltoosi, @woodruffbets, @politicoryan, @PhelimKine, @ChristopherJM, @BryanDBender, @laraseligman, @connorobrienNH, @paulmcleary, @leehudson, @AndrewDesiderio and @JGedeon1 plus our summer interns, @Lawrence_Ukenye and @nicolle_liu. Principles of peacekeeping Forming a new operation Role of the Security Council Role of the General Assembly Mandates and the legal basis for peacekeeping Deployment and reimbursement. It was going back to Iraq. The United States will not be withdrawing its roughly 900 troops from northeast Syria any time soon, despite mounting speculation it would do so following its much-maligned August pull-out from. UNReliefChief. The official administration line is that these forces, primarily special operators, are there to help the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fight the remnants of the Islamic State terrorist group,. Roughly 900 U.S. troops, including a number of Green Berets, will remain in Syria to continue supporting and advising the Syrian Democratic Forces fighting the Islamic State the same role. The F-35 delivers the unrivaled advantage for our pilots, nation, and partners. [I]f the diesel generators hadnt turned on, if the automation and our staff of the plant had not reacted after the blackout, then we would already be forced to overcome the consequences of the radiation accident. We need to look at what do we want in Syria, what our long-term objectives are, the person said. "We want to be sure that ISIS cannot reconstitute itself in a manner that can threaten the United States, Europe, or partners in the region. ROB LODEWICK tells NatSec Daily. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry: AMISOM - Africa Union (AU) Mission in Somalia; UN-supported, AU-operated peacekeeping mission, BATUS - British Army Training Unit Suffield, Canada, BATUK - British Army Training Unit, Kenya, CSTO - Collective Security Treaty Organization, ECOMIG - ECOWUS Mission in The Gambia; Africa Union-European Union peacekeeping, stabilization, and training mission in Gambia, EUFOR - European Union Force Bosnia and Herzegovina (also known as Operation Althea), EuroCorps - European multi-national corps headquartered in Strasbourg, France, consisting of troops from Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Spain; Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania and Turkey are Associated Nations of EuroCorps, G5 Joint Force - G5 Sahel Cross-Border Joint Force comprised of troops from Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger, KFOR - the Kosovo Force; a NATO-led international peacekeeping force in Kosovo, MFO - Multinational Force & Observers Sinai, headquartered in Rome, MINUSCA - United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic, MINUSMA - United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, MNJTF - Multinational Joint Task Force Against Boko Haram comprised of troops from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria with the mission of fighting Boko Haram in the Lake Chad BasinMONUSCO- United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, NATO - North American Treaty Organization, headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, Operation Barkhane - French-led counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism mission in the Sahel alongside the G5 Joint Force; headquartered in NDjamena, Chad and supported by Canada, Denmark, Estonia, the European Union, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the US, Operation Inherent Resolve - US-led coalition to counter the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and provide assistance and training to Iraqi security forces, UNAFIL - United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNAMID - African Union - United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, Sudan, UNDOF - United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, Golan (Israel-Syria border), UNFICYP - United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, UNISFA - United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (Sudan-South Sudan border), UNMISS - United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan, UNSOM - United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia, note: since the 1990s, Australia has deployed more than 30,000 personnel on nearly 100 UN peacekeeping and coalition military operations, including in Cambodia, Rwanda, the Solomon Islands, Somalia, and East Timor, 170 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 300 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); 200 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (Aug 2022), 1,375 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,625 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO; plus about 190 police); 120 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 1,100 Mali (MINUSMA; plus about 280 police); 1,600 South Sudan (UNMISS); 180 Sudan (UNISFA) (2022), 125 France (contributing member of EuroCorps); 250 Romania (NATO) (2022)note: in response to Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Belgium, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe, 260 (plus about 160 police) Mali (MINUSMA) (May 2022), approximately 300 Mozambique (Southern African Development Community force) (2023), 650 (plus about 180 police) Mali (MINUSMA) (May 2022)note: Burkina Faso is part of a four (formerly five)-nation anti-jihadist task force known as the G4 Sahel Group, set up in 2014 with Chad, Mali (withdrew in 2022), Mauritania, and Niger; it has committed 550 troops and 100 gendarmes to the force; as of 2020, defense forces from each of the participating states were allowed to pursue terrorist fighters up to 100 km into neighboring countries; the force is backed by France, the UN, and the US, 760 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 5,400 Somalia (ATMIS) (2022), 225 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 180 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 290 Mali (MINUSMA) (May 2022), 750 (plus about 350 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (May 2022)note: Cameroon has committed approximately 2,000-2,500 troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeast border; national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own country territories, although crossborder operations occur occasionally, the CAF has nearly 1,400 military personnel forward deployed for NATO air, land, and sea missions in the European theater, including up to 650 troops in Latvia and 140 in Romania (2022)note: in response to Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Canada, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe, 1,450 Mali (MINUSMA) (May 2022)note 1: Chad has committed approximately 1,000-1,500 troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeast border; national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own territories, although crossborder operations are conducted periodically; in 2019, Chad sent more than 1,000 troops to Nigerias Borno State to fight Boko Haram as part of the MNJTF missionnote 2: Chad is also part of a four (formerly five)-nation anti-jihadist task force known as the G4 Sahel Group, set up in 2014 with Chad, Mali (withdrew in 2022), Mauritania, and Niger; it has committed 550 troops and 100 gendarmes to the force; as of 2020, defense forces from each of the participating states were allowed to pursue terrorist fighters up to 100 km into neighboring countries; the force is backed by France, the UN, and the US, 425 Mali (MINUSMA); 225 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 420 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 1,050 South Sudan (UNMISS); up to 2,000 Djibouti (May 2022), 130 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO) (2022)note: in response to Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe, up to 130 Lithuania (NATO); 130 Slovakia (NATO) (2022)note: in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe, approximately 220 Estonia (NATO); approximately 750 Latvia (NATO); approximately 100 Middle East/Iraq (NATO) (2022)note: in response to Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Denmark, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe, 1,000 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,075 Mali (MINUSMA) (May 2022), 5-10,000 Somalia (4,500 for ATMIS; the remainder under a bilateral agreement with Somalia; note - bilateral figures are prior to the conflict with Tigray); 250 Sudan (UNISFA); 1,475 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2022), since 2003, the EU has launched more than 30 civilian and military crisis-management, advisory, and training missions in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, as well as counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and a naval operation in the Mediterranean to disrupt human smuggling and trafficking networks and prevent the loss of life at sea (2022)note: in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU announced that it would develop a rapid deployment force consisting of up to 5,000 troops by 2025, 170 Egypt (MFO); 165 Iraq (UNAMI); 150 Golan Heights (UNDOF) (2022), approximately 300 Central African Republic; 300 Comoros; approximately 900 Cote d'Ivoire; approximately 1,450 Djibouti; 220 Estonia (NATO); approximately 2,000 French Guyana; approximately 900 French Polynesia; approximately 1,000 French West Indies; 350 Gabon; approximately 500 Middle East (Iraq/Jordan/Syria); 600 Lebanon (UNIFIL); approximately 1,400 New Caledonia; approximately 1,700 Reunion Island; approximately 800 Romania (NATO); approximately 350 Senegal; approximately 650 United Arab Emirates; approximately 2,500 West Africa (Chad, Niger; Operation Barkhane, Operation Sabre) (2022)note 1: France has been a contributing member of the EuroCorps since 1992 note 2: in response to Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including France, have sent additional troops to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe, up to 500 Iraq (NATO); 1,030 Lithuania (NATO); up to 1,400 Mali (MINUSMA/EUTM); 280 Slovakia (NATO) (2022)note 1:in November 2022, Germany pledged to withdraw its troops from Mali by Spring 2024note 2: in response to Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Germany, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe, 140 Mali (MINUSMA); 875 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 725 (plus about 275 police) South Sudan (UNMISS); 650 Sudan (UNISFA) (2022)note: since sending a contingent of troops to the Congo in 1960, the military has been a regular contributor to African- and UN-sponsored peacekeeping missions, approximately 1,000 Cyprus; 100 Kosovo (NATO); 100 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2022), 155 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (May 2022), 160 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 150 Iraq (NATO); 470 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2022), 1,900 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 110 Golan Heights (UNDOF); 900 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 2,350 South Sudan (UNMISS); 310 Sudan (UNISFA) (May 2022), 225 (plus about 140 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,025 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 1,225 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (May 2022), estimated to have up to 3,000 military personnel in Syria (2022)note: Iran has recruited, trained, and funded thousands of Syrian and foreign fighters to support the ASAD regime during the Syrian civil war, 130 Golan Heights (UNDOF); 320 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (May 2022), 120 Djibouti; approximately 700 Bulgaria (NATO); 900 Middle East/Iraq/Kuwait (NATO, European Assistance Mission Iraq); 640 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); 250 Latvia (NATO); 875 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 400 Libya; 290 Niger; 250 Romania (NATO); 150 Somalia (EUTM) (2022)note: in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Italy, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe, 260 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 3,650 Somalia (ATMIS) (2022)note: in November 2022, Kenya sent approximately 900 troops to the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as part of a newly formed East Africa Community Regional Force (EACRF) to assist the DRC military against the rebel group M23; the force is led by Kenya, 250 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 280 South Sudan (UNMISS); 170 United Arab Emirates; note - since 2009, South Korea has kept a naval flotilla with approximately 300 personnel in the waters off of the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (2022), note: contributes about 350-550 troops to the Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine joint military brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG), which was established in 2014; the brigade is headquartered in Poland and is comprised of an international staff, three battalions, and specialized units; units affiliated with the multinational brigade remain within the structures of the armed forces of their respective countries until the brigade is activated for participation in an international operation, 750 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (May 2022), note: until announcing its withdrawal in May of 2022, Mali was part of a five-nation anti-jihadist task force known as the G5 Sahel Group, set up in 2014 with Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, and Niger; Mali had committed 1,100 troops and 200 gendarmes to the force, 470 (plus about 320 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (May 2022)note: Mauritania is part of a four (formerly five)-nation anti-jihadist task force known as the G4 Sahel Group, set up in 2014 with Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali (withdrew in 2022), and Niger; it has committed 550 troops and 100 gendarmes to the force; as of 2020, defense forces from each of the participating states were allowed to pursue terrorist fighters up to 100 km into neighboring countries; the force is backed by France, the UN, and the US, 860 South Sudan (UNMISS) (May 2022)note: from 2003 to July 2021, some 3,300 Mongolian troops served in Afghanistan, including about 1,300 under the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission (2015 to 2021); since 2002, Mongolia has deployed more than 19,000 peacekeepers and observers to UN operations in more than a dozen countries, 775 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 925 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (May 2022), 790 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,150 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 400 Golan Heights (UNDOF); 870 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 235 Liberia (UNSMIL); 175 Mali (MINUSMA); 1,750 (plus about 220 police) South Sudan (UNMISS) (May 2022), 270 Lithuania (NATO); 125 Slovakia (NATO) (2022)note: in response to Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including the Netherlands, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe, up to 220 Antarctica (summer season only) (2022), 875 Mali (MINUSMA) (May 2022)note 1: Niger is part of a four (formerly five)-nation anti-jihadist task force known as the G5 (now G4) Sahel Group, set up in 2014 with Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali (withdrew in 2022), and Mauritania; it has committed 1,100 troops and 200 gendarmes to the force; as of 2022, defense forces from each of the participating states were allowed to pursue terrorist fighters up to 100 km into neighboring countries; the force is backed by France, the UN, and the USnote 2: Niger also has about 1,000 troops committed to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeast border; national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own country territories, although crossborder operations are conducted periodically, 200 Ghana (ECOMIG) (2022)note: Nigeria has committed an Army combat brigade (approximately 3,000 troops) to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), a regional counter-terrorism force comprised of troops from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger; MNJTF conducts operations against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeast border; national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own country territories, although crossborder operations are conducted periodically, up to 190 Lithuania (NATO) (2022)note: in response to Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Norway, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe, 1,300 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,970 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 220 Mali (MINUSMA); 290 South Sudan (UNMISS); 220 Sudan (UNISFA) (May 2022), 215 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (May 2022), 250 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); up to 180 Latvia (NATO); 190 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 230 Romania (NATO) (2022)note 1: Poland contributes about 2,500 troops to the Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine joint military brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG), which was established in 2014; the brigade is headquartered in Poland and is comprised of an international staff, three battalions, and specialized units; units affiliated with the multinational brigade remain within the structures of the armed forces of their respective countries until the brigade is activated for participation in an international operationnote 2: in response to Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Poland, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe, 200 Central African Republic (MINUSCA/EUTM); up to 150 Lithuania (NATO); approximately 170 Romania (2022)note 1: in 2021, Portugal deployed about 80 troops to Mozambique to assist with the EU training missionnote 2: in response to Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Portugal, have sent additional troops to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europenote 3: Portugal also participates in several NATO maritime and air policing operations, as well as some EU international missions, information varies; approximately 3,000 Armenia; approximately 2,000 Armenia/Azerbaijan (peacekeepers for Nagorno-Karabakh); estimated 3,000-5,000 Belarus; approximately 7,000-10,000 Georgia; approximately 500 Kyrgyzstan; approximately 1,500 Moldova (Transnistria); estimated 2,000-5,000 Syria; approximately 5,000 Tajikistan (2022)note 1: in February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine with an estimated 150,000 troops; prior to the invasion, it maintained an estimated 30,000 troops in areas of Ukraine occupied since 2014note 2: prior to the invasion of Ukraine, Russia was assessed to have about 3,000-5,000 private military contractors conducting military and security operations in Africa and the Middle East, including in the Central African Republic, Libya, Mali, Sudan, and Syria, 2,450 (plus about 500 police) Central African Republic (approximately 1,700 for MINUSCA; an additional 750 troops sent separately under a bilateral agreement with CAR in August, 2021); up to 2,000 Mozambique (deployed mid-2021 under a bi-lateral agreement to assist with combating insurgency; includes both military and police forces); 2,600 (plus about 400 police) South Sudan (UNMISS) (2022), estimated 2,500-5,000 Yemen (varies depending on operations) (2022), 750 Gambia (ECOMIG); 970 Mali (MINUSMA); note - Senegal also has about 1,100 police deployed on various UN peacekeeping missions (2022), maintains permanent training detachments of military personnel in Australia, France, and the US (2022), 240 Cyprus (UNFICYP); up to 150 Latvia (NATO) (2022)note: in response to Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Slovakia, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe, 200 Kosovo (NATO); 100 Slovakia (NATO) (2022)note: in response to Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Slovenia, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe, 1,150 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); up to 1,500 Mozambique (part of a Southern African Development Community force to help quell an insurgency) (2022), approximately 200 Iraq (NATO/EU training assistance); up to 600 Latvia (NATO); 650 Lebanon (UNIFIL); approximately 200 Romania (NATO); approximately 500 Mali (EUTM); 150 Turkey (NATO) (2022)note: in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including Spain, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe, 110 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 125 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 240 Mali (MINUSMA) (May 2022), approximately 750 Democratic Republic of the Congo (East African Community stabilization force)Sudan joined the Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015, reportedly providing as many as 40,000 troops during the peak of the war in 2016-17, mostly from the Rapid Support Forces; by 2021, Sudan had reduced the size of the force to about a brigade (approximately 2-3,000 troops) (2022), 450 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 850 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 125 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (May 2022), 730 (plus about 300 police) Mali (MINUSMA) (May 2022), 325 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 100 Mali (MINUSMA) (May 2022), approximately 150 (Azerbaijan; monitoring cease-fire, clearing mines); 250 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR); approximately 30,000 Cyprus; estimated 5,000 Iraq; 300 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); 110 Lebanon (UNIFIL); estimated 500 Libya; up to 5,000 Qatar; approximately 200 Somalia (training mission); estimated 5,000-10,000 Syria (2022)note 1: between 2016 and 2020, Turkey conducted four significant military ground campaigns in northern Syria; Turkey also has deployed troops into northern Iraq on numerous occasions to combat the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), including large operations involving thousands of troops in 2007, 2011, and 2018, and smaller-scale operations in 2021 and 2022; Turkey has also conducted numerous air strikes in both Iraq and Syria; in October of 2021, Turkeys parliament extended the militarys mandate to launch cross-border operations in Iraq and Syria by two more yearsnote 2: in 2020, Turkey deployed hundreds of Turkish troops and as many as 5,000 Syrian fighters to Libya to support the Libyan Government of National Accord, 6,800 Somalia (6,200 ATMIS; 625 UNSOM); 250 Equatorial Guinea (training mission) (2022)note: in December 2022, Uganda sent approximately 1,000 troops to the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as part of a newly formed East Africa Community Regional Force (EACRF) to assist the DRC military against the rebel group M23, note: prior to the Russian invasion in 2022, Ukraine contributed about 500 troops to the Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine joint military brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG), which was established in 2014; the brigade is headquartered in Poland and is comprised of an international staff, three battalions, and specialized units; units affiliated with the multinational brigade remain within the structures of the armed forces of their respective countries until the brigade is activated for participation in an international operation, estimates vary; reportedly a few hundred remain in Yemen; has maintained some troops at military bases in Eritrea and Somalia (Somaliland) (2022), approximately 1,000 Brunei; approximately 400 Canada (BATUS); approximately 2,500 Cyprus (250 for UNFICYP); approximately 1,000 Estonia (NATO); approximately 1,200 Falkland Islands; approximately 200 Germany; 570 Gibraltar; approximately 1,400 Middle East (including Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE); up to 350 Kenya (BATUK); approximately 350 Mali (MINUSMA); 150 Poland (NATO) (2022)note: in response to Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries, including the UK, have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe, 5,000 Africa (mostly in Djibouti, with approximately 700-1,000 in other countries of East Africa and about 700 in West Africa); 1,700 Australia; 250 Diego Garcia; 150 Canada; 650 Cuba (Guantanamo Bay); 290 Egypt (MFO); approximately 100,000 Europe (Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey, UK); 150 Greenland; 6,200 Guam; 370 Honduras; 56,000 Japan; approximately 15,000 Middle East (Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates); 125 Philippines; 28,000 South Korea; 200 Singapore; 100 Thailand (2022)note: US military rotational policies affect deployment numbers; the US deploys ground and air units to select countries for 6-12 month rotational assignments on a continuous basis; in South Korea, for example, the US continuously rotates combat brigades (approximately 3,000 personnel) for 9 months at a time; contingencies also affect US troop deployments; in 2019-2020, the US deployed more than 15,000 additional military personnel to the Middle East for an extended period of time and in 2022, it sent more than 30,000 reinforcements to Europe in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine; in addition, some overseas US naval bases, such as the headquarters of US Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT) in Manama, Bahrain, are frequented by the crews of US ships on 6-9 month deployments; a US carrier strike group with an air wing and supporting ships typically includes over 6,000 personnel, 830 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 210 Golan Heights (UNDOF) (May 2022), there are about 75,000 uniformed UN peacekeepers deployed worldwide (2022), 930 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (May 2022), Center for the Study of Intelligence (CSI).