From the New York Times: Spain will send 511 more troops to Afghanistan, mostly to train Afghan security forces, the country’s defense minister announced Thursday.

The new troops will join a buildup of 220 completed late last month, and will bring Spain’s total to more than 1,500, almost twice the size of its force there at the beginning of the year…

Germany and France have said they will make no new commitments in advance of a conference in London in January. Spain will formalize its contribution at that meeting, the defense minister, Carme Chacón, told a panel of national lawmakers. (photo: AP)