Foreign and Defence Secretaries attend NATO meeting in Brussels
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has announced £70 million a year funding for the Afghan National Security Forces after British combat operations end in Afghanistan in 2014.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said that the contribution will support the ANSF to make Afghanistan a safe and more stable country, and protect the UK’s interests:
“This contribution underlines our commitment to a stable and secure Afghanistan after 2014 and I look forward to discussing with other like-minded countries the contributions they will make.”
The majority of contributions from the wider international community are expected to be announced at the NATO Chicago Summit next month, which will set out the international community’s commitments on security support to Afghanistan after 2014.
Also on the agenda for the NATO Foreign & Defence Ministers meeting is NATO reform, and ensuring NATO has the capabilities needed to meet 21st century threats, despite economic challenges.
The meeting will also mark 15 years of NATO cooperation with Russia. The Alliance, including the UK, remains committed to the NATO-Russia relationship. Practical cooperation is taking place on security challenges both the Alliance and Russia face, such as counter-terrorism, counter-piracy and Afghanistan.