Germany Not ‘First in Line’ to Boost Afghan Troops

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that she does not believe Germany is “first in line” to send more troops to Afghanistan, as NATO considers a proposal to boost forces in Afghanistan. “I don’t think we’re first in line to expand our capacities there,” Merkel said after meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday. According to German media, Merkel said that Germany will continue to lead NATO’s military training mission in northern Afghanistan, adding that she will wait and see the outcome of the alliance’s assessment of a request from military chiefs to send more troops to the country. NATO already has some 13,450 troops in Afghanistan, including around 6,900 US and 500 British military personnel, who are training the Afghan armed forces to eventually take over the country’s defence and security.