Defence spokesman Liam Fox told the Daily Telegraph newspaper that other NATO allies could take over the role of continental defence and free up British forces for operations outside Europe, such as the war in Afghanistan.

Opinion polls put the Conservatives, led by David Cameron, on course to oust Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour party in an election due by next June.

"If other countries are willing to take up roles in continental defence that leaves Britain and France able to take on expeditionary roles," Fox said.

"Finding a more creative diplomatic solution in NATO will be a priority for an incoming Conservative government... it's more important that we have more effective burden sharing so we can be freed up from some responsibilities."

Calls for NATO allies to step up their contributions to operations in Afghanistan, where Britain has 9,000 troops in the second largest deployment after the United States, have caused tension within the alliance.

Fox said: "We need to be clear that there are constitutional and political reasons why some NATO countries will not be able to do the same amount when it comes to expeditionary warfare.

"We can either hammer on about burden sharing, or we can start looking at what countries will be able to do within their political, constitutional and military constraints.

"Far better in NATO that countries have roles which they are 100 percent willing to carry out."

Britain has about 25,000 troops in Germany alongside US forces. They were there initially to guarantee German security against the Soviets in the Cold War and later, to ensure NATO could respond quickly to events on the continent.

earlier related report
Britain apologises to Spain over Gibraltar incident
Madrid (AFP) Nov 20, 2009 - Britain apologised to Spain on Friday after a Royal Navy ship shot at a buoy bearing the colours of the Spanish flag during a military exercise off Gibraltar, the Spanish foreign ministry said.

The British ambassador was summoned by Spanish authorities after the incident on Tuesday off Gibraltar, which is a disputed British territory on Spain's southern tip, the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said it had "protested" and "asked for explanations" from the ambassador, Giles Paxman, following the incident around five nautical miles off Gibraltar.

Paxman said the incident was a misunderstanding and the buoy used as a target was not carrying the Spanish flag, even if it was bearing "the colours yellow and red", which are the colours of the flag, the ministry said.

"The British ambassador presented his apologies for the error of judgment and the lack of sensitivity and promised an inquiry would be opened to determine who was responsible," the Spanish government said.

Spanish newspaper El Mundo said confrontations between the Royal Navy and Spain's Civil Guard police force have been on the rise for several months in the waters around Gibraltar.

Spain does not recognise any waters off Gibraltar as belonging to the British territory, apart from the territory's ports.

Madrid points to the wording of the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht -- under which Gibraltar was given up -- which says the "rock" was ceded to England for ever.

However, London claims sovereignty over a strip of water measuring three nautical miles surrounding the territory, as it does with any other territory.

Gibraltar has long fuelled tensions between Spain and Britain, with Madrid arguing it should be returned to Spanish sovereignty.

London has said it will not renounce sovereignty of the territory against the wishes of Gibraltarians.

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