NATO said in a statement today that a Spanish battalion will be deployed before and after October 9 as a quick-reaction force, and an Italian battalion as an in-theater operational reserve force.
The Italian battalion is currently attached to the fledgling NATO Response Force, to become fully operational in October 2006.
The United States pressed at a NATO summit last month for the force to be activated to counter threats of poll-related violence in Afghanistan. France argued against deployment, saying the NRF should not be used as a solution to troop shortages for routine operations.
A compromise removed the Italian unit from the NRF for the period of
its deployment to Afghanistan.
(Reuters/AFP)
The Italian battalion is currently attached to the fledgling NATO Response Force, to become fully operational in October 2006.
The United States pressed at a NATO summit last month for the force to be activated to counter threats of poll-related violence in Afghanistan. France argued against deployment, saying the NRF should not be used as a solution to troop shortages for routine operations.
A compromise removed the Italian unit from the NRF for the period of
its deployment to Afghanistan.
(Reuters/AFP)
