Britain is considering sending about 200 non-combat troops to help the military operation against Islamist militants in Mali, with a decision expected within days, media reports said Tuesday.
This would likely include a small number deployed to Mali itself, as part of an EU training mission. A larger number would help train West African forces to join the battle alongside the French and Malian troops.
Prime Minister David Cameron called President Francois Hollande on Sunday to say Britain was “keen” to provide further help to French forces in Mali.
But his Downing Street office declined to give more details other than to stress that, as 10 years of conflict in Afghanistan finally approached its end, Britain would not be deploying combat troops to another warzone.
Asked about the latest reports on Tuesday, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: We’re not commenting on troops on the ground.”
Amid reports that an announcement could come later Tuesday, or at least within the coming days, she said planning for further assistance “really depends on the discussions with the French”.
Britain’s national security advisor Kim Darroch was in Paris on Monday for talks on what London could do to help, after already sending a Sentinel surveillance plane and two C-17 transport planes to assist French forces.