The troops are a clear expression that Sarkozy is underlining his commitment to the alliance France already has 1,900 soldiers in Afghanistan. Sarkozy stated shortly before Christmas: “There is a war going on here, a war against terrorism, against fanaticism, that we cannot and will not lose.”
Canada has 2,500 troops operating in Kandahar province in the south but had stated that it would pull out next year unless another NATO country offered to send at least 1,000 soldiers to back them up.