**Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen is to calm US “doubts” over the alliance’s role in Afghanistan in a speech in Washington.**Mr Rasmussen will remind the Atlantic Council think tank of Nato’s sacrifices during the campaign.
The speech comes after the top US and Nato commander in Afghanistan warned of likely failure without more troops.
But rising casualty figures have hit public support for the operation on both sides of the Atlantic.
The speech will be Mr Rasmussen’s first major US address as secretary general, and has been seen in advance by the BBC.
“I’m a little concerned about the doubts I hear these days in the United States about Nato,” he says.
“Talking down the European and Canadian contributions - as some here in the US do, on occasion - can become a self-fulfilling prophesy.”
US ‘frustration’
He says he is aware of frustrations among US officials caused by "the restrictions some Nato nations put on their forces; by the time it takes Nato to take decisions; by the reluctance of some countries to send more forces to the mission, even for training.
“Let me be very clear. I understand those frustrations. I am already working hard to address those very real problems,” he says.
Mr Rasmussen highlights Nato’s casualties in the campaign.
“While body count is no measure of solidarity, it is, unfortunately, a symbol of commitment. Over 20 countries have had their soldiers killed, some in large numbers,” he says.
“I will not accept from anyone the argument that Europeans and Canadians are not paying the price for success in Afghanistan. They are.”
He adds: “If we are to succeed in Afghanistan, it will only be if we do it together.”
Mr Rasmussen also says the training programme for Afghan forces needs to be stepped up.
“If Afghan security forces are to take the lead, they will need to be better trained, better equipped and likely more numerous, which means we are all going to have to invest more in training and equipping them.”
There are currently some 100,000 foreign soldiers in Afghanistan from more than 40 countries - more than 60,000 of them American.
Despite the request for more troops by military commander Gen Stanley McChrystal, US President Barack Obama says he will not decide until after a review of strategy.
Correspondents say that European countries are not expected to offer any significant increase in troops unless Washington takes the lead.
The Netherlands and Canada have already set 2010 and 2011 as deadlines for withdrawal and Italy has announced plans for a “strong reduction” in its forces.