The United States government "extends its appreciation to Bulgaria and to the members of the Bulgarian armed forces who are serving courageously in Afghanistan as part of this important international effort," a US embassy statement said, outlining president Barack Obama’s strategy for Afghanistan that will see a stepped-up troop commitment and US assistance to Pakistan.

Speaking on December 1 2009 at the US military academy at West Point, Obama announced a comprehensive strategy for both the international military mission in Afghanistan and U.S. assistance to Pakistan. 

"The speech clearly demonstrated that the US remains resolved to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda and to prevent their return to either Afghanistan or Pakistan in the future," the US embassy statement said.

Speaking specifically on Afghanistan, Obama outlined a plan that includes a significant increase in US troop levels, as well as new economic assistance programs which will improve the lives of the Afghan people, according to the statement. 

"Working together with international forces from 43 other nations, we will expand our efforts to provide security to the Afghan population, and to train and build the Afghan National Security Forces, so they are ready to provide security for their own citizens." 

The European Union issued a statement welcoming Obama’s announcement that the United States would further reinforce its engagement, inter alia in ISAF, as part of its continued commitment to Afghanistan.
 
"This announcement comes at a time of renewed focus and engagement by the international community as a whole," the EU said.
 
"The EU stands ready to work closely with the US and other parts of the international community in addressing the challenges in Afghanistan."
 
The EU said that it was underlining the need to maintain a comprehensive approach to the challenges in Afghanistan.
 
"A positive development will require a combination of political, military and civilian/development instruments, the main purpose of which should be to enable the government of Afghanistan to gradually assume full responsibility for the stabilisation and development of the country, and to deliver rapid, tangible results."
 
The EU emphasised the need for capacity building in Afghanistan.

The bloc emphasised the importance of "close and strategic co-ordination" of the international efforts, under the lead of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, in helping Afghanistan to put into practice the commitments made by president Hamid Karzai in his inauguration speech.
 
"The EU remains determined to enhance and improve its engagement in Afghanistan in accordance with the Plan for Strengthened EU Action in Afghanistan and Pakistan, adopted by the Council of the European Union on October 27 2009, and reiterates its strategic partnership with the United States in the region," the EU statement said.

Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that Nato countries are throwing their support behind Obama's new Afghan strategy, and will send at least 5000 more troops to fight insurgents in the war-torn country, the Voice of America reported on December 2.

Rasmussen said on December 2 in Brussels that all Nato countries must do more in the fight against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda if they truly want to make Afghanistan stable. 

Rasmussen pledged that NATO and its allies would strive to transition into a role where the Afghan people can take control of securing their country.  But he said the word "transition" is not a code for an "exit strategy".

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Obama's decision to send an additional 30 000 troops is a "very difficult, but necessary strategy."

General Stanley McChrystal, the commander of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, said the clarity, commitment and resolve outlined in Obama’s address were critical toward eliminating terrorist safe havens that threaten regional and global security.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy said that he "fully supports" Obama's new strategy.  Sarkozy called the announcement "courageous" and said it gives "new momentum" to the international engagement in Afghanistan.

Sarkozy's reaction left open the possibility of sending additional French troops to Afghanistan, a move that the French defence minister deemed "unlikely" earlier this week.

Afghan president Karzai's office said he and Obama spoke for about an hour on December 1 about the strategy.