BRUSSELS: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has hinted at the reduction of NATO forces in Afghanistan with the complete coordination of its allies because the operations in Afghanistan are aimed toward maintaining peace within the country in the least costs.
This was said during a web conference of the Defence Ministers of NATO countries in Brussels. SG Stoltenberg said, during his news conference, it had been discussed that as a part of a coordinated decision by NATO allies, it had been decided earlier this year to maneuver to "Phase A-Light" which may be a reduced NATO presence in Afghanistan.
"But we maintained the bases, the regional presence of the NATO forces in Afghanistan, including a German-led presence in Mazar-i-Sharif within the north, with many other Allies," he added. He also mentioned the presence of the Italian-led presence in Herat, within the west of Afghanistan.
"We will now have a process in NATO where we'll sit together, the US and everyone other Allies and discuss different options, different possibilities for further reductions," Stoltenberg disclosed. "But in fact, which will be wiped out a coordinated way, in an orderly way, and it'll depend upon the developments in Afghanistan. and maybe the foremost important thing now's to form sure that Taliban breaks ties, all their bonds with the Al-Qaeda, and also that we've intra-Afghan negotiations," he added.
He said that NATO was prepared for further reductions which had been addressed by Secretary Esper intimately during the meeting. He announced further consultations on the matter.
Stoltenberg said that the meeting also reviewed the coronavirus pandemic, Russia's defense preparations, and NATO missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. He said the presence of the COVID-19 virus didn't mean that the remainder of NATO's challenges were over. He added that state and non-state elements were trying to destabilize, divide, and disrupt the NATO alliance.
"Therefore, NATO will still play its role in defending itself against any threat against its allies," he added. Stoltenberg said the meeting reviewed Russia's growing nuclear capabilities and its dual-use missile technology, also because of the impact of its threat against NATO.
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