Italy, one of 43 countries which make up the US-led coalition in Afghanistan, currently has around 2,800 troops deployed in the war against Taliban insurgents and their Al-Qaeda allies.
'We are now in a position to increase the number of Italian soldiers by 1,000 beginning at the start of 2010,' said Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa, adding the deployments would be spread out through the year.
The additional Italian troops would result in a 'corresponding reduction' in other international missions in which the country participates, including in the Balkans and Lebanon, said Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.
'Obama has spoken of the beginning of a withdrawal from 2011. We hope that will be possible,' Mr Frattini said. Italy, one of 43 countries which make up the US-led coalition in Afghanistan, currently has around 2,800 troops deployed in the war against Taleban insurgents and their Al-Qaeda allies.
Mr La Russa said the extra troops would be part of a wider effort to bring stability to Afghanistan more than eight years into the war. He named 'major resources for reconstruction, more obligations for the Karzai government in the battle against drugs, more training for Afghan forces'.
The reinforcements would make Italy's one of the largest contingents in Nato's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Thursday, December 03, 2009
DTN News: Italy Readies 1,000 Extra Troops To Afghanistan ~ official
DTN News: Italy Readies 1,000 Extra Troops To Afghanistan ~ official
*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) ROME, Italy - December 4, 2009: ITALY'S government on Thursday said it was ready to send 1,000 extra soldiers to Afghanistan next year following US President Barack Obama's announcement of a troop surge. Italy, one of 43 countries which make up the US-led coalition in Afghanistan, currently has around 2,800 troops deployed in the war against Taliban insurgents and their Al-Qaeda allies.
'We are now in a position to increase the number of Italian soldiers by 1,000 beginning at the start of 2010,' said Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa, adding the deployments would be spread out through the year.
The additional Italian troops would result in a 'corresponding reduction' in other international missions in which the country participates, including in the Balkans and Lebanon, said Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.
'Obama has spoken of the beginning of a withdrawal from 2011. We hope that will be possible,' Mr Frattini said. Italy, one of 43 countries which make up the US-led coalition in Afghanistan, currently has around 2,800 troops deployed in the war against Taleban insurgents and their Al-Qaeda allies.
Mr La Russa said the extra troops would be part of a wider effort to bring stability to Afghanistan more than eight years into the war. He named 'major resources for reconstruction, more obligations for the Karzai government in the battle against drugs, more training for Afghan forces'.
The reinforcements would make Italy's one of the largest contingents in Nato's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Italy, one of 43 countries which make up the US-led coalition in Afghanistan, currently has around 2,800 troops deployed in the war against Taliban insurgents and their Al-Qaeda allies.
'We are now in a position to increase the number of Italian soldiers by 1,000 beginning at the start of 2010,' said Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa, adding the deployments would be spread out through the year.
The additional Italian troops would result in a 'corresponding reduction' in other international missions in which the country participates, including in the Balkans and Lebanon, said Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.
'Obama has spoken of the beginning of a withdrawal from 2011. We hope that will be possible,' Mr Frattini said. Italy, one of 43 countries which make up the US-led coalition in Afghanistan, currently has around 2,800 troops deployed in the war against Taleban insurgents and their Al-Qaeda allies.
Mr La Russa said the extra troops would be part of a wider effort to bring stability to Afghanistan more than eight years into the war. He named 'major resources for reconstruction, more obligations for the Karzai government in the battle against drugs, more training for Afghan forces'.
The reinforcements would make Italy's one of the largest contingents in Nato's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
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