Germany and the Netherlands have proposed they jointly take control of the international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan when Turkey's mandate expires.

German Defence Minister Peter Struck made the proposal on behalf of both countries at the Nato meeting in Warsaw, Poland, on Tuesday.

After a few nerves, relations will now very quickly become totally normal working relations

Peter Struck, German Foreign Minister on US relations

Germany's post-war relations with the United States have hit a low after an election campaign by re-elected German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, which the US saw as anti-American.

Mr Struck expressed hope that this offer by Germany would go some way towards reducing those tensions.

"We accept additional responsibility and hope that the US administration will honour this," he said.

December deadline

Turkey's six-month mandate to lead the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Kabul runs out on 20 December and it has said it is not prepared to extend its command.

German and US relations have severely soured

The 4,650-strong ISAF is responsible for maintaining security in and around the Afghan capital Kabul.

Around 1,200 German troops already participate in the force alongside 250 Dutch soldiers as part of a German-led battalion.

Mr Struck proposed that Germany and the Netherlands could take over leadership in January or February of next year.

The German-Dutch plan is still in the early stages and it is not clear how many extra troops would be sent to Afghanistan.

Building bridges

Taking over the joint command could help to heal the rift between the US and Germany, as America has been pushing for its European allies to take greater responsibility in such operations.

About 1,200 German troops already serve in Kabul

Though he has been a vocal opponent of any military action against Iraq, Mr Schroeder insists he is still committed to the US-led war on terror.

The tone of Mr Schroeder's re-election campaign caused outrage in the US, especially when his Justice Minister Herta Daeubler-Gmelin was accused of comparing President George Bush to Adolf Hitler.

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, also in Warsaw for the Nato meeting, said the campaigning had been unhelpful and had poisoned relations between the two countries.

But speaking after the Nato meeting, Mr Struck said he was convinced the US and Germany would be able to return to their past good relations.

"After a few nerves, relations will now very quickly become totally normal working relations," he said.