Spain says no plans for more troops to Afghanistan

[Coventina]

Source: Associated Press

MADRID (AP) — Spain has no plans to raise its troop levels in Afghanistan despite calls by President Barack Obama for a renewed commitment to fight the resurgent Taliban, Spain's foreign minister said Tuesday.

The comments by Miguel Angel Moratinos are sure to be unwelcome in Washington, which has made shifting military assets from Iraq to Afghanistan a priority, and has called on NATO allies in Europe to contribute to the effort.

Spain already has 800 troops stationed in Afghanistan, mostly in the relatively peaceful Western part of the country, part of a 55,000-strong NATO contingent.

"We don't plan for the moment to increase our military presence in Afghanistan," Moratinos told journalists at a breakfast meeting.



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