National security editor | March 05, 2008
THE Dutch Defence Minister will fly to Canberra next week to discuss the future of military operations in Afghanistan with his Australian counterpart, Joel Fitzgibbon.

The talks will help both countries prepare a roadmap for next month’s NATO summit in Bucharest, which is expected to be attended by Mr Fitzgibbon and Kevin Rudd.

The Prime Minister discussed developments in Afghanistan, and his plan to travel to Bucharest, in an early morning phone call to US President George W. Bush yesterday.

NATO leaders in Bucharest will debate a revamped political/military strategy for Afghanistan to defeat Taliban insurgents and establish better co-ordination of civil reconstruction and military operations with the Karzai Government.

Mr Fitzgibbon and his Dutch counterpart, Eimert van Middelkoop, will discuss options for lifting the rate of training of Afghan military and police as well as improving the flow of civil aid to Oruzgan province, where Dutch troops work closely with the Australians.

The Dutch military commitment to Oruzgan has been extended until August 2010, raising the prospect of a larger defence contribution from Australia after that time should The Netherlands Government withdraw the bulk of its force.

With NATO forces under pressure in southern Afghanistan, the US and other close allies, including Australia and Britain, have urged other NATO member countries, notably France and Germany, to commit extra forces.