Bangkok, November 20: The German defense minister says that his country will delay any decision about troop surge in Afghanistan after the US President new war strategy is revealed.
“We are waiting for the president’s speech and … waiting for the new concept, the new strategic ideas from our American friends,” said Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.
Following meetings at the Pentagon on Thursday, Guttenberg said he has assured US Defense Secretary Robert Gates that Germany’s commitment is firm.
US president Barack Obama is expected to announce in coming weeks if Washington will send more troops next year, increasing the record 68,000 US forces currently in Afghanistan.
Germany, with about 4,500 troops in Afghanistan, is the third largest contributor to the NATO-led mission in the war-torn country.
The defense minister also said Germany would reassess its commitment after a European-sponsored conference on Afghanistan due to take place at the end of January.
“Germany will certainly reassess its mandate and make decisions then after the conference,” he said.
Most Germans oppose the involvement of their forces in Afghanistan, according to opinion polls, but the German government agreed on Wednesday to extend the army’s mandate there by a year.
Last week, the defense ministry announced it would send 120 more troops to the country.
—–Agencies