HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : US to send additional troops to Afghanistan [December 2009]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 2 December 2009.

The Prime Minister has urged members of the international coalition to unite behind President Obama’s strategy on Afghanistan.

Earlier today, President Obama announced the United States would send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan.

It follows the commitment made by the Prime Minister earlier this week to deploy an additional 500 UK troops to Afghanistan from next month.

On President Obama’s announcement today, Gordon Brown said:

“I call on all our allies to unite behind President Obama’s strategy. Britain will continue to play its full part in persuading other countries to offer troops to the Afghanistan campaign.

“A vital next stage is the London conference on Afghanistan on 28 January, to which all 43 coalition nations will be invited.

“It will offer an opportunity to agree a process to transfer provinces and districts to Afghan control; to make decisions on new civilian co-ordination in Afghanistan; and to support commitments by President Karzai on Afghan reforms to build up the Afghan army and police, and local governance; and to secure further support from international partners.”