Kaskeala: Finland could send more troops to Afghanistan

Juhani Kaskeala

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Finland's Chief of Defence, Admiral Juhani Kaskeala, who is today winding up a visit to Britain, commented on Tuesday that he believes Finland "could afford to increase somewhat" its troop deployment in Afghanistan, as part of the NATO-led ISAF forces there.
      It would nevertheless not be more than a handful of soldiers, dozens at the most.
      "We do not have the capacity for any larger deployments, since we have already committed a good deal of our available forces in the Balkans", said Kaskeala.
     
Finland currently has 82 soldiers in Afghanistan. No official request or proposal to increase the size of the Finnish contingent has come thus far, although the subject was broached on a recent visit here by the German commander of forces in Afghanistan.
      Britain has been eager to see more Nordic troops deployed in Northern Afghanistan, since the British forces are soon scheduled to move further south.
      Admiral Kaskeala has been in Britain as the guest of the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Michael Walker.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  NATO commander would like more Finnish soldiers in Afghanistan (1.3.2005)
  More Finnish soldiers to be sent to Afghanistan (3.5.2004)

Helsingin Sanomat