Australia In Discussions Over Sending In More Troops

AVA- Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Tuesday they were in talks with the US about sending in more troops to Afghanistan ahead of a formal request by the Trump administration.

According to the West Australian newspaper the Australian ambassador to the US Joe Hockey also said over the weekend that Canberra was discussing their next move.

“We are now in deep discussions with the US administration about how to further increase our participation,” Hockey said.

The news report stated that Australia was unlikely to approve the deployment of combat troops to support the US’s new war strategy but that troops would be used in a training capacity.

The West Australian reported that the expansion of Australia\'s police and military training mission, or the deployment of additional military equipment, are  possible outcomes.

According to the report, Australia will spend $81 million on development aid in Afghanistan this financial year and that the 300 troops already committed to train and assist the Afghan army, along with other military support, will cost another $335 million.