Italy will send more troops to Afghanistan, becoming the first Nato member in Europe to answer Barack Obama's call for reinforcements to fight the Taliban.
The Italian government may also drop restrictions on the deployment of its soldiers, the Guardian has learned.
There are 2,000 Italian troops in Afghanistan, mostly in the western province of Herat. That will be increased to 2,800 this year, according to European diplomats. An announcement is expected soon.
The decision will increase pressure on Britain, Germany and France to raise their troop contributions. The Obama administration has signalled to Europe that commitment to the Afghan effort will be an important factor in determining relations with Washington.
The Italian government will say it is willing to address the divisive issue of Nato "caveats" – limitations imposed by national governments on how and where their troops can be deployed in Afghanistan. These are a source of considerable frustration for Nato commnaders. Italy wants other European nations to make similar concessions, particularly Germany, which has strictly limited the use of its soldiers.
Most of the Nato force on the southern and eastern frontlines is from the US, Britain, Canada, France and the Netherlands. Canada has said it will withdraw its combat forces from the south by 2011. The issue is likely to come to a head in the run-up to a Nato summit in early April.
The Italian government wants to use its presidency of the G8 this year to help find a regional solution to the Afghan conflict. Diplomats say it will convene a conference in June involving the G8 and major states in the region: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Turkey.
There are no current plans to invite Iran, because of what is seen in Rome as the Iranian government's "unconstructive' role in Afghanistan – there have been allegations by western officials of Iranian support for the Taliban – and the diplomatic impasse over Tehran's nuclear ambitions. But Italy may change its position and is consulting with the US and the other main contributors in Afghanistan on how to deal with Iran. The outcome of Iranian presidential elections in June could also have a significant impact on negotiations over Afghanistan.