- Published: 14.04.2021.
NATO decides to start withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan
At a session on Wednesday, which saw the participation of Croatia’s Defence Minster Mario Banožić and MFEA State Secretary Frano Matušić, NATO Allies decided to start withdrawing forces from the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan by May 1
At a session on Wednesday, which saw the participation of Croatia’s Defence Minster Mario Banožić and MFEA State Secretary Frano Matušić, NATO Allies decided to start withdrawing forces from the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan by May 1, with plans to complete the drawdown of all troops within a few months.
The session was held online, in the format of defence and foreign ministers. Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg was joined at the Brussels headquarters by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, who held a joint press conference after the session.
Stoltenberg said that this decision opened a new chapter in NATO’s relations with Afghanistan, and that the Allies and partners would continue to support the Afghan people, but that it was up to them now to build sustainable peace. He reported that the Allies also discussed the situation in and around Ukraine, underlining NATO’s strong support for Ukraine and calling once again for Russia to ease the tensions.
Banožić supported the decision to withdraw the Resolute Support forces, underscoring that the Allies had invested a lot in the future of Afghanistan, and recalling that the Croatian Armed Forces during the past 17 years had participated in the activities with 5,000 members and made significant financial and material contributions to that country. The defence minister stressed that the Afghan Government still needed NATO’s strong support, adding that achieving security and stability in that country required a long-term vision, multilateral efforts and bilateral support. He underlined the importance of close cooperation with partners and countries in the region as well. The changed situation in Afghanistan means that NATO will have to pay even more attention to the security in its southern flank, Banožić said.
After the meeting, the Allies adopted a joint statement, published after an address by the U.S. President and Commander in Chief, Joe Biden.