Brown to Announce Troop Increase in Afghanistan as Obama Vows to Send 9,000 Marines

Strategic Insights -

Gordon Brown will announce that he is sending more British troops to Afghanistan, pre-empting a statement from US President Barack Obama expected tomorrow night. Brown will increase the British deployment from 9,000 to at least 9,500, with 9,000 US marines to be sent to Helmand province within days. The prime minister has been critical of Pakistan's failure to capture Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri, and has called on the Pakistani government to join the global effort to isolate and break al-Qaida.

Key Takeaways:

  • Brown will announce an increase of at least 500 British troops in Afghanistan, bringing the total to at least 9,500.
  • Obama will announce that 9,000 US marines will be sent to Helmand province within days.
  • Brown has criticized Pakistan's failure to capture Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri, calling on the Pakistani government to join the global effort.
  • Brown will report progress on his three conditions for further British involvement in Afghanistan: * Nato countries other than Britain and the US are sharing the burden. * Afghan forces are available for British forces to train. * Ministers are satisfied that troops are properly equipped.
  • Nato countries other than the US have committed an extra 5,000 troops.
  • Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, has agreed to attend a conference in London on 28 January, where he is expected to agree that an extra 5,000 troops will be trained by British troops in Helmand in 2010.
  • Military chiefs have given assurances on equipment.

Statistics:

  • 9,000 US marines will be sent to Helmand province within days (Obama's statement).
  • British troop deployment will increase by at least 500 from 9,000 to at least 9,500.
  • Extra 5,000 troops committed by Nato countries other than the US.
  • 30,000 Pakistani troops have been sent to South Waziristan.
  • 34 provinces will be used to test Afghan forces' capabilities by the end of 2010.
  • 5,000 troops will be trained by British troops in Helmand in 2010.

Sources:

  • [Reports in Washington, The Guardian]
  • [US News]
  • [BBC]
  • [Quote from Wajid Shamsul Hasan, high commissioner of Pakistan in the UK, to the BBC]
  • [Document from the US commander General Stanley McChrystal's report, source not specified]