NATO 'exploring possibility' of joining anti-IS coalition: US

Brussels: NATO is considering joining the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State jihadists in Syria and Iraq, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said today.

"Thanks to the leadership of NATO (head) Jens Stoltenberg we are exploring the possibility of NATO joining the coalition as a member itself," Carter said after a meeting of the coalition in Brussels to discuss increasing their contributions to the campaign.

The coalition already includes all 28 NATO member states individually but not the alliance in its own right.

Some NATO member states have been wary of the alliance becoming directly involved in the IS campaign but the threat it poses, with some of its leadership moving to Libya and closer to Europe, has increased the pressure for change.

Speaking after the meeting at NATO HQ in Brussels, Carter said getting the alliance on board would be a "significant development."

"NATO as a new member would bring unique capabilities ... including experience in building partner capacity, training ground forces and providing stabilisation support," he said.

"I look forward to discussing NATO's appropriate role with fellow NATO allies in the days and weeks ahead," he added.

Stoltenberg has repeatedly said in the past that NATO supports the efforts of its member states in the fight against IS but has also stressed that the alliance had no direct role in the Syria and Iraq conflicts.

Earlier today, NATO defence ministers agreed "in principle" to a US request to deploy its AWACS surveillance aircraft so as to free up US planes which would then be deployed against IS.

The NATO aircraft would not be directly involved, instead filling in for US planes that would be re-tasked to gather IS intelligence over Iraq and Syria.

Announcing that agreement, Stoltenberg said the decision "will increase the ability of the coalition to degrade and destroy the terrorist group."