The Biden administration is facing increased pressure from European allies growing impatient over whether Washington will soon remove its troops from Afghanistan, a move that would free NATO members to reposition forces to counter Russia in their backyard.
“The majority of the troops in Afghanistan now, they are from Europe and from partner nations, so the majority of the troops are non-U.S.,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference Monday morning, in advance of NATO ministerial meetings and the arrival of Secretary of State Antony Blinken Tuesday. President Biden’s hand-picked defense secretary, former U.S. Central Command chief Lloyd Austin, has said NATO would follow American forces out of Afghanistan should the commander in chief opt for a full withdrawal.
