Netherlands welcomes US Afghanistan strategy

Dutch defence minister Eimert van Middelkoop has warmly welcomed the new US strategy in Afghanistan.

The minister said in his speech on Tuesday evening that US president Barack Obama had "set out a clear and recognisable vision for the continuation of the mission in Afghanistan".

Van Middelkoop endorsed Obama's priorities, including the July 2011 deadline set for the start of a US troop pullout. He said it was wise Obama had not referred to an exit strategy, but rather to a necessary transition in which responsibility was handed over to the Afghan authorities.

"In Uruzgan, the Netherlands may be able to take the first steps towards transferring responsibility to the Afghans next year," said Van Middelkoop.

He said the US government was right to call on its allies also to supply extra troops. Dutch daily De Telegraaf reported on Wednesday that US secretary of state has made an official request to Dutch foreign minister Maxime Verhagen to extend the Dutch mission in Afghanistan.

At present the Netherlands has around 2,000 troops stationed in Afghanistan, and Van Middelkoop stressed the Dutch government has not yet made a decision on its contribution to the international force in Afghanistan when the present Dutch mission expires on August 1, 2010.

However, previously the government has said a continued mission on the present scale would not be possible. A majority in parliament have voted in favour of a Dutch withdrawal.