RIGA, Latvia, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- The 26-member NATO summit in Latvia ended Wednesday with a boost for the war in Afghanistan, a call for increased defense spending and more military equipment.
A NATO spokesman said an extra 26,000 allied troops would now be "more usable" for combat in Afghanistan, and he said there was also a commitment for more helicopters and fighter aircraft.
Commanders said they could move an extra 2,500 troops around the country now that some smaller members, such as the Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia and Luxembourg, agreed to lift so-called caveats that kept their troops in supply roles.
Since the U.S.-led invasion to oust the Taliban in October 2001, the United States, Britain, Canada and Netherlands have borne the brunt of casualties in fighting, statistics show.
NATO also issued an invitation to the former Yugoslav states of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia to join the Partnership for Peace program.
The summit concluded with a call for North Korea and Iran to abandon their nuclear programs and an agreement to discuss enlarging the alliance in 2008.
