The United States says there is a political will among NATO members for the alliance to do more in stabilising Iraq even if it is too early for formal talks on the subject.
"There is clearly very strong political will in the alliance to have NATO do more in Iraq," U.S. Ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns told a news briefing today ahead of a special session of allied defence ministers in Munich.
"A number of European allies have stepped forward to suggest that NATO take on a collective role of its own [in Iraq], as has the United States," he said.
Washington has suggested the 19-nation alliance could take command of a Polish-led division of troops in south-central Iraq and diplomats say it might also take responsibility for military operations in the south of the country.
However, mindful of French and German opposition to the US-led war that ousted Saddam Hussein and of the deep crisis within the alliance ahead of the conflict, the United States has not been pushing hard.