Australia is set to be upgraded to an enhanced partner within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, giving it greater sway in the military organisation’s operations.

The decision will be ratified at a NATO summit in Wales this week by US President Barack Obama, The Australian reports .

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defence Minister David Johnston will represent Australia at the meeting, which is set to discuss the escalating crisis in Iraq and Syria and recent Russian advances into Ukrainian territory.

The decision comes as Prime Minister Tony Abbott reportedly weighs up sending an extra 200 ground troops back into Afghanistan amid concerns of instability in the region, escalated by the rise of Islamic State jihadists in Iraq.

Currently, there are no active soldiers in the country, although around 400 remain for training purposes.

Over 26,000 Australian troops have fought in Afghanistan over the past decade.

Formed in 1949, NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance comprised of 28 full member nations.