{"id":45815,"date":"2020-11-30T21:53:49","date_gmt":"2020-11-30T21:53:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/11\/30\/nato-mulls-its-future-in-afghanistan-as-us-draws-down-troops\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T08:15:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T08:15:31","slug":"nato-mulls-its-future-in-afghanistan-as-us-draws-down-troops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/11\/30\/nato-mulls-its-future-in-afghanistan-as-us-draws-down-troops\/","title":{"rendered":"NATO mulls its future in Afghanistan as US draws down troops"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BRUSSELS \u2014 NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Monday that the military alliance is grappling with a dilemma over its future in Afghanistan, as the United States starts pulling troops out while attacks by the Taliban and extremist groups mount<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than 17 years after taking the lead on international security efforts in Afghanistan, NATO now has around 11,000 troops from dozens of nations there helping to train and advise the national security forces. Most of the personnel are from Europe and other NATO partner countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the alliance relies heavily on the United States armed forces for air support, transport and logistics. European allies would struggle even to leave the country without U.S. help, and President Donald Trump\u2019s decision to pull almost half the U.S. troops<\/a> out by mid-January leaves NATO in a bind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe face a difficult dilemma. Whether to leave, and risk that Afghanistan becomes once again a safe haven for international terrorists. Or stay, and risk a longer mission, with renewed violence,\u201d Stoltenberg told reporters on the eve of a videoconference between NATO foreign ministers.<\/p>\n\n\n\t