SecState Blinken stresses US commitment to Nato
Brussels, Mar 23 (efe-epa).- The United States’ Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday stressed his country’s commitment to NATO and Washington’s intention to boost the Alliance so that it can continue to face the modern-day threats.
“I have come here to express the United States steadfast commitment to that Alliance which has been the cornerstone of peace, prosperity, stability for the transatlantic community for more than 70 years,” he said during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.
Blinken underlined Washington’s pledge to “rebuild” its partnerships, “first and foremost with our NATO allies.”
“We want to revitalize the Alliance to make sure it is strong and effective against the threats of today as it has been in the past,” he added.
President Joe Biden has highlighted Washington’s commitment toward NATO after a relations became strained under his predecessor Donald Trump.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the message conveyed by Biden to “rebuild alliances and strengthening the bonds between North America and Europe.”
The Alliance faces global challenges, including terrorism, cyberattacks, nuclear proliferation, disruptive technologies, Russia’s destabilizing actions and the growing influence of China, he added.
“No ally and no continent can deal with all these challenges alone. We need Europe and North America together,” he added.
The ministers’ meeting will discuss the future of the military presence in Afghanistan, where NATO has deployed an advisory, support and training mission for local security forces.
A US-Taliban deal, struck in 2020, stipulated the departure of international troops from Afghanistan by May 2021 if the insurgents meet a series of conditions, including severing ties with terror groups, reducing violence and taking part in peace negotiations with the Afghan government.
