Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Financial Times
June 23, 2008 By Hugh Williamson, in Berlin
Germany is preparing to send more troops to Afghanistan following repeated requests from the US and other Nato countries, but it is unlikely to give in to pressure to deploy forces in the embattled south of the war-torn country.
Officials say Franz Josef Jung, the defence minister, is expected to announce this week a proposed increase from the current upper limit of 3,500 troops to a new limit of 4,500 soldiers from the autumn onwards, when parliament is due to approve the latest extension to Berlin’s overseas military mission.
Robert Gates, the US defence secretary told Mr Jung earlier this year in a bluntly worded letter – later leaked to the press – that Germany should pull its weight by helping to confront Taliban rebels in southern Afghanistan, where the fighting is most intense.
German troops are deployed as part of the Isaf peacekeeping force, mostly in the relatively stable north. Angela Merkel, the chancellor, said at the time that she had “absolutely no time” for such a redeployment, arguing that “continuity and stability” were more important.
This stance has essentially not changed, according to government officials and defence experts in Berlin. The defence ministry refused to comment.
Mr Jung told German radio that a higher upper limit was necessary to provide “more flexibility” – for instance, in providing training next year for 7,500 Afghan troops.
Germany is likely to highlight this week’s announcement as another sign of its strengthened commitment to Afghanistan, thereby hoping to deflect complaints over its unwillingness to redeploy to the south.
From July 1, Germany is for the first time set to deploy a “quick reaction force” of about 200 troops in northern Afghanistan, to provide rapid security and combat support to Nato troops.
The length of the new mandate is expected to be between 14 and 18 months, compared with the previous 12-month deployments, although this is largely aimed at avoiding debate on a further extension during next year’s election, expected in September.
The timing of Mr Jung’s announcement is linked to domestic politics. Parliament goes into summer recess next weekend, and since Ms Merkel’s “grand coalition” is expected to give the proposal prompt backing, the aim is to limit opportunities for opposition parties to mount effective resistance to the move.
The resurgent Left party, in particular, opposes German troops in northern Afghanistan – let alone in the south – and public support for the mission has also diminished recently.
Egon Ramms, a Nato general of German nationality with responsibility for Isaf, welcomed Mr Jung’s signal that more troops would be sent, although he said the soldiers were needed “sooner rather than later”. In total, Isaf needed an extra 6,000 troops, he added.
June 23, 2008 By Hugh Williamson, in Berlin
Germany is preparing to send more troops to Afghanistan following repeated requests from the US and other Nato countries, but it is unlikely to give in to pressure to deploy forces in the embattled south of the war-torn country.
Officials say Franz Josef Jung, the defence minister, is expected to announce this week a proposed increase from the current upper limit of 3,500 troops to a new limit of 4,500 soldiers from the autumn onwards, when parliament is due to approve the latest extension to Berlin’s overseas military mission.
Robert Gates, the US defence secretary told Mr Jung earlier this year in a bluntly worded letter – later leaked to the press – that Germany should pull its weight by helping to confront Taliban rebels in southern Afghanistan, where the fighting is most intense.
German troops are deployed as part of the Isaf peacekeeping force, mostly in the relatively stable north. Angela Merkel, the chancellor, said at the time that she had “absolutely no time” for such a redeployment, arguing that “continuity and stability” were more important.
This stance has essentially not changed, according to government officials and defence experts in Berlin. The defence ministry refused to comment.
Mr Jung told German radio that a higher upper limit was necessary to provide “more flexibility” – for instance, in providing training next year for 7,500 Afghan troops.
Germany is likely to highlight this week’s announcement as another sign of its strengthened commitment to Afghanistan, thereby hoping to deflect complaints over its unwillingness to redeploy to the south.
From July 1, Germany is for the first time set to deploy a “quick reaction force” of about 200 troops in northern Afghanistan, to provide rapid security and combat support to Nato troops.
The length of the new mandate is expected to be between 14 and 18 months, compared with the previous 12-month deployments, although this is largely aimed at avoiding debate on a further extension during next year’s election, expected in September.
The timing of Mr Jung’s announcement is linked to domestic politics. Parliament goes into summer recess next weekend, and since Ms Merkel’s “grand coalition” is expected to give the proposal prompt backing, the aim is to limit opportunities for opposition parties to mount effective resistance to the move.
The resurgent Left party, in particular, opposes German troops in northern Afghanistan – let alone in the south – and public support for the mission has also diminished recently.
Egon Ramms, a Nato general of German nationality with responsibility for Isaf, welcomed Mr Jung’s signal that more troops would be sent, although he said the soldiers were needed “sooner rather than later”. In total, Isaf needed an extra 6,000 troops, he added.