BRUSSELS, Dec 9: The United States on Thursday pledged a new drive to improve relations with its European allies in Nato after last year's deep rifts over the Iraq war.

Outgoing US Secretary of State Colin Powell said President George W. Bush would visit Nato and the European Union on February 22 to demonstrate his commitment to Europe.

Nato governments on Thursday promised to expand their presence in Afghanistan and Iraq as "It is of great importance that Bush is coming to Europe. It will contribute to our consensus-based approach despite the differences we have had" over Iraq, said Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.

Alliance officials said there could be a special Nato summit in Brussels to coincide with President Bush's visit. "Nato is in very good shape," said de Hoop Scheffer. The alliance was on course to enlarge the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan to cover the west of the country and set up an Iraqi forces training academy outside Baghdad, he said.

But Nato's ambitions of playing a major role in Iraq - as demanded repeated by Washington - remain on ice following the decision by Germany, France, Spain, Greece, Belgium and Luxembourg to participate in the Iraqi training mission.

Powell and de Hoop Scheffer tried to put a brave face on the six countries' stance, saying sovereign nations could decide to opt out of Nato operations. "We would have preferred that every country participate in the effort. We think it is a problem," Powell recognized.