The 45-minute meeting at the Pentagon was dominated by the current military situation in Afghanistan. "The USA and its allies are doomed to succeed," said zu Guttenberg.

Both countries agreed to work closely together on the civilian and military aspects of the mission ahead of an international Afghanistan conference scheduled in January 2010.

The German minister said his government remained steadfast in its commitment to the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan.

"I told him (the US defense secretary) that the German commitment regarding Afghanistan is firm," zu Guttenberg told journalists after talks in Washington.

Germany has 4,500 troops deployed in Afghanistan, the third largest contingent in the international force.

US President Barack Obama is considering sending thousands of more troops to Afghanistan and review US military strategy in the fight against a resurgent Taliban following a request from General Stanley McChrystal, the head of U.S. and NATO troops.

"We all are eagerly waiting for the president's speech and for the new concept, for the new strategic ideas from our American friend," said the German politician.

At the same time zu Guttenberg stressed that Germany still has the option and self-confidence to put forward its own vision standpoint about the eight-year-old conflict. Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right coalition government said Berlin wanted the conference to come up with measurable goals with regard to withdrawing international troops serving with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Germany's cabinet has announced plans to extend the mandate for the country's participation in the international military mission ISAF for another year in December.

nrt/AFP/dpa
Editor: Andreas Illmer