Aust to send troops to Iraq, Afghanistan

Australia has announced new military missions to Afghanistan and Iraq at a defence meeting overshadowed by a row between Donald Trump and his Nato allies.

It has volunteered to join a Nato-led mission in Iraq to improve the country’s military academies, aimed at preventing the return of Isis or a resurgence of terrorism.

And 20 Australian defence personnel are heading to Afghanistan to help the country set up a Blackhawk helicopter fleet.

The Iraq mission, launched at the Nato leaders summit in Brussels this week, will ‘‘train the trainers’’ who teach Iraqi soldiers how to counter suicide bombers and detect, defuse and dispose of the improvised explosives used by terrorists.

It will also cover military medicine, armoured vehicle maintenance and civilmilitary planning, which is the coordination of military and civilian operations in areas such as post-war reconstruction, emergency planning and the protection of critical infrastructure.

Nato put together the mission, which will be led by Canada and involve several hundred Nato trainers, after a request from the Iraqi government for more help in building its capacity to fight off terrorists in the long term.

Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Europe’s security was threatened by instability to its south and east.

‘‘We strongly believe that prevention is better than intervention,’’ he said. ‘‘The best way to prevent Nato allies being pressed back into combat operations in Iraq is to make sure Iraqi forces are able to prevent Isis from coming back.’’

Fairfax Media understands that Australia will send two trainers to work at the mission headquarters in Iraq. The government sees it as a ‘‘small but meaningful’’ contribution.

The Afghan project was announced by Defence Minister Marise Payne in Brussels, and will include aviation advisers and force protection joining Australia’s overall commitment of around 300 soldiers. Other personnel will return to Australia keeping the numbers roughly the same.

‘‘Australia is one of only a few nations

‘‘The best way to prevent Nato allies being pressed back into combat operations in Iraq is to make sure Iraqi forces are able to prevent Isis from coming back.’’

Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg

in the international coalition currently flying Blackhawks and we will be able to provide qualified personnel to support the introduction of this important platform,’’ Payne said.

‘‘The Blackhawks are a critical battlefield enabler that will provide the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces with increased air mobility and response capabilities for ground forces.’’

Australia will also continue to fund Afghanistan’s current fleet of Mi-17 helicopters as it transitions to the Blackhawk through the Afghan National Army Trust Fund, to which we have contributed US$520 million ($704 million) since 2010.

The launch of the Iraq mission was one of the few positives to come from a heated day at the summit which Stoltenberg, at one point, compared to the Suez Crisis. – Fairfax