HRH The Crown Prince Visits Danish Soldiers in Afghanistan
On Wednesday, 4 December, The Crown Prince and Chief of Defence Peter Bartram landed at Camp Bastion. The purpose was to visit the Danish soldiers who are currently deployed in the southern part of Afghanistan.
There were still a couple of hours before the sun rose when the Danish C-130 Hercules transport plane sat its wheels down on the runway in the large, multinational Camp Bastion early Wednesday morning. Ahead lay 24 compact hours in which His Royal Highness and the Chief of Defence, General Peter Bartram, would visit the Danish soldiers in Camp Bastion, Lashkar Gah and Kandahar - 24 hours in which The Crown Prince spoke with special operations soldiers, viewed equipment and greeted the Army’s and the Air Force’s service personnel in southern Afghanistan.
- It has been a great experience again to get the opportunity to visit the Danish soldiers deployed in Afghanistan. I am, like in earlier visits, impressed with what the soldiers accomplish, says The Crown Prince.
It was the third time The Crown Prince has visited the Danish soldiers. After more than ten years of effort in the turbulence-plagued country, the Danish soldiers’ duties and mission have, according to plan, changed character. The Danish military effort is now gradually being reduced as the Afghan security forces have taken over the responsibility of ensuring security in their own land.
Therefore, the Danish main body in Helmand, DANCON ISAF 16, focuses partly on sending the most equipment as possible home to Denmark and partly on supporting the Afghan security forces together with our allies.
- The mission in Afghanistan is no longer in the people’s consciousness in the same degree as previously. I think it is important that we at home remember that Denmark continues to have soldiers stationed in Afghanistan for some time yet. The currently-deployed soldiers perform, like their predecessors, a great job, says The Crown Prince.
