(Image source: euronews )

 

BY NEWSY STAFF

 

France’s new president says nearly all French troops will leave Afghanistan by the end of 2012. Francois Hollande made a surprise visit to Afghanistan this week.

 

Euronews has the story.

 

“Hollande’s predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy, had already informed NATO French forces would be leaving the country a year ahead of schedule in 2013.  Now, Hollande is bringing that schedule forward to the end of this year.”

 

Hollande announced his decision at last weekend’s NATO summit in Chicago. France’s drawdown would come two years before NATO’s plan to withdraw all combat troops from the region.   Hollande tells The Guardian...

 

“....the withdrawal would be done in a way that was ‘organised and co-ordinated’ with France's coalition partners in the country, ‘notably with President Obama, who understands our reasons, and in direct consultation with the Afghan authorities’.” 

 

According to The New York Times , France has the fifth-largest NATO troop contingency, with 3,300 troops in Afghanistan.

 

Hollande addressed the French embassy in Kabul, saying the troop withdrawal didn’t mean France was abandoning Afghanistan. A reporter for The Telegraph writes … 

 

“Some troops would remain in non-combat training roles and French aid would be [put] into a medical college, housing, energy, oil research and farming support.”

 

And a reporter for France 24 says , those aren’t the only interests France has in keeping a foot in the door in Afghanistan.

 

“There’s great mineral wealth in Afghanistan.  Many people believe it’s a great untapped market. ...  In security terms, it’s a tall order to ask companies to come here and invest....”

 

Hollande also met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai during his visit.