Afghan withdrawal signals new UK strategy

UK Prime Minister David Camerons declaration that the UK will withdraw nearly 4,000 troops from Afghanistan next year is a significant moment for the UKs overall security strategy, the Financial Times reported Thursday. The prime ministers announcement on Wednesday marks the start of the withdrawal of all UK combat troops from Afghanistan before the end of 2014.A similar decision is expected next month from US President Barack Obama on the much larger US contingent of 60,000 troops.It is also the first stage in a reorientation of the UKs military posture overseas, which will see Britain moving out of south Asia and increasingly focusing on new security threats that are emerging in north Africa and the Middle East. The cut in UK forces - 500 who had already been pledged to leave this year and 3,800 next year - means that Britain will remove nearly half of the 9,500 troops serving in Afghanistan by December 2013. The reduction reflects a strong belief in the UK and US that good progress is being made in training the Afghan National Army to lead security operations after Nato forces leave the country at the end of 2014.