Donald Trump commits another 4,000 troops to destroy the Taliban in Afghanistan – and calls on Theresa May to follow suit
PRESIDENT Donald Trump says the US must "fight to win" America's 16-year-long war in Afghanistan - but won't say how many troops he's sending.
And Trump has also urged Theresa May to send more troops to Afghanistan.
"We are not nation-building again," he said Monday night. "We are killing terrorists."
Trump insisted he would "not talk about numbers of troops" but hinted that he'd embraced the Pentagon's proposal to boost troop numbers by nearly 4,000, adding to the roughly 8,400 Americans there now.
Before becoming a candidate, Trump had ardently argued for a quick withdrawal from Afghanistan, calling the war a massive waste of U.S. "blood and treasure" and declaring on Twitter, "Let's get out!"
Seven months into his presidency, he said last night that though his "original instinct was to pull out," he'd since determined that approach could create a vacuum that terrorists including al-Qaida and the Islamic State would "instantly fill."
The US President is reportedly pushing May to increase the near 600 UK troops based on the ground in the battle to regain control from the Taliban.
A source told The Times: "Britain as one of the big military players in the alliance is expected to
They added: “The concept of all for one and one for all looks a bit thin if it’s the Americans who have to do everything.”
UK defence sources denied there was pressure from Trump.
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said: "The US commitment is very welcome.
"In my call with Secretary Mattis yesterday we agreed that despite the challenges, we have to stay the course in Afghanistan to help build up its fragile democracy and reduce the terrorist threat to the West.
"It's in all our interests that Afghanistan becomes more prosperous and safer: that's why we announced our own troop increase back in June."
"NATO remains fully committed to Afghanistan and I am looking forward to discussing the way ahead with (Defence) Secretary (James) Mattis and our Allies and international partners," Stoltenberg said in a statement.
NATO has 12,000 troops in Afghanistan, and 15 countries have pledged more, Stoltenberg said.
Large parts of Afghanistan have fallen back under control of the Taliban.
US defence secretary James Mattis said it will be targeting other countries in the battle to end the 16-year war.
He said: "If you look at the region, it’s a south Asia strategy, and we’ll be addressing those issues in it.”
The US has a long history of working with the UK military.
Britain has already offered to deploy another 85 troops by November, taking its total to 585.