US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attended a NATO meeting on Tuesday and spoke in a moderate and conciliatory tone. This contrasts with former President Donald Trump’s attitude towards NATO.
Former President Trump considered NATO to be an outdated, divided and in crisis club. On Tuesday, Blinken spoke in Brussels about rebuilding and revitalizing the transatlantic military alliance. He came to “listen and consult”.
One of the topics that Blinken raised was Afghanistan. Trump decided without consulting NATO allies to withdraw US troops by May 1 and agreed with the Taliban. But new president Joe Biden acknowledges that it is not yet safe enough for the retreat.
The United States is therefore not withdrawing from Afghanistan alone. “We will leave together” with NATO allies “when the time is right,” says Blinken.
Not only the US, but also the Netherlands and other member states contribute troops to the NATO mission in Afghanistan. What will happen with the deal with the Taliban is not yet known.
Collaborate and embrace alliance
Blinken said China’s military rise and Russia’s efforts to destabilize the West were threats that require NATO to cooperate. He also urged Turkey to embrace the alliance.
Still, there is plenty among Biden on which the allies disagree. For example, Blinken will speak to his German colleague Heiko Maas about the pipeline under construction that will bring Russian gas to Germany. The US is strongly against this, but Berlin is not yet giving in to American pressure.
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