Sweden Contemplates Deploying Troops to Iraq
Stockholm, January 14, AZERTAC
Sweden’s foreign minister said that she would present the question to parliament.
Sweden is considering sending troops to Iraq to train soldiers to fight against the Islamic State group, the country’s foreign minister said during a military conference.
''We have contemplated the possibility of sending a smaller unit which could help train military personnel,'' said Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom.
Swedish military personnel could join Finnish officers in a mission led by Germany, but would not be involved in active combat, Press TV reported.
“This would be an important contribution to show that we want to share responsibility for meeting a difficult threat … this contribution will not involve active combat," said Wallstrom, adding that Sweden will maintain its neutrality while working with NATO member states.
Meanwhile, the French Parliament will vote Tuesday on whether to renew the country’s mandate of supporting the U.S.-led military campaign against Islamic extremists in Iraq. French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Islamic State group fighters must be “wiped out,” suggesting that France will not pull their troops from their operations overseas.
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