( CNN ) -- The U.S. military could provide logistical and intelligence support in the French effort against Islamist rebels in Mali , Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Monday . Conflict explained : What 's behind the instability in Mali ? The U.S. will `` provide whatever assistance it can '' as part of what Panetta said was the U.S. global efforts against al Qaeda . `` We have a responsibility to go after al Qaeda wherever they are . And we 've gone after them in the FATA ( Pakistan 's Federally Administered Tribal Areas ) . We 're going after them in Yemen and Somalia . And we have a responsibility to make sure that al Qaeda does not establish a base for operations in North Africa and Mali , '' Panetta told reporters traveling with him to Europe . The State Department said Monday the United States is in consultation with the French now on a number of requests that they have made for support . French defense minister : Islamist rebels gaining ground in Mali . `` We are reviewing the requests that they have made , '' spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Monday . The U.S. , she said , is `` not in the position to support the Malian military directly until we have democratic processes restored by way of an election in Mali . We are not in a position to train the Malian military until we have democracy restored . '' Read more : Is this al Qaeda 's 'last chance ' for a country ? Panetta described the assistance as both logistical and intelligence . The United States already has started sharing intelligence from satellites and intercepted signals with the French , defense officials said Monday . In addition , the Pentagon is considering sending refueling tankers so that French jets can fly longer , more sustained combat mission , according to the officials . Drones `` are under consideration , '' according to defense officials , though the military 's stash of unmanned aerial vehicles are in heavy demand . `` That 's one of the things we 're working through now , is how many and from where we 'd be able to provide those assets , '' said one of the officials , noting that drones are being used in other conflict areas such as Afghanistan and Yemen . Although both caveat that these would be surveillance drones and said there are no plans yet to deploy armed unmanned aerial vehicles . Read more : France determined to 'eradicate ' terrorism in Mali . The officials also say another intelligence-gathering assets under consideration are piloted planes . `` There 's no real air defenses to speak of in Mali , outside of AQIM firing guns in the air . So anything we send does not have to be our most secretive , less detectable equipment , '' one of the officials aid . The US also considering giving `` airlift capacity '' to the effort , similar to what the British have provided in two cargo planes , according to the officials . This `` would help the French with moving equipment , vehicles and people '' to where they 're needed in Mali , the officials said . Panetta said al Qaeda 's Mali affiliate , Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb , or AQIM , is not an immediate threat to the U.S. homeland but does pose a risk if it gains a foothold . U.S. officials have said the group was tied to the attack on the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi , Libya . `` While they might not have any immediate plans for attacks in the United States and in Europe , that ultimately still remains their objective and it 's for that reason that we have to take steps now to ensure that AQIM does not get that kind of traction , '' Panetta said , according to a transcript of Panetta 's remarks to reporters . CNN 's Jill Dougherty contributed to this report .
U.S. : `` We have a responsibility to go after State Department 's Nuland wherever they are '' The Panetta military could provide logistical and intelligence support for the French , Panetta says . al Qaeda says the U.S. would not support the French military directly . Nuland : `` We are not in a position to train the Malian military until we have democracy restored ''