MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to Trump, the United States will cooperate with Afghanistan as long as Kabul seeks to progress, however, this assistance will not be endless.
"I welcome President Trump’s new, conditions-based approach to Afghanistan and the region," Stoltenberg said in a statement on the organization's website.
I welcome POTUS @realDonaldTrump's new approach to Afghanistan & region. NATO remains fully committed. My statement: https://t.co/5fKMoids5q
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) 22 августа 2017 г.
Trump's strategic guidance for South Asia unveiled on Monday states that US support in Afghanistan is not unlimited and will not serve as a "blank check." The guidance repudiates nation-building and instead expands the US troops' authority to target terrorists in Afghanistan.
"Our aim remains to ensure that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for terrorists who would attack our own countries," Stoltenberg said.
Contrary to previous reports, Trump said the US would not reveal the number of troops or any future military action plans in Afghanistan.
Also on Tuesday, UK Defense Secretary Sir Michael Fallon voiced support for Trump’s new strategy on Afghanistan.
"In my call with [US Defense] Secretary [Jim] Mattis yesterday we agreed that despite the challenges, we have to stay the course in Afghanistan to help build up its fragile democracy and reduce the terrorist threat to the West. It's in all our interests that Afghanistan becomes more prosperous and safer: that's why we announced our own troop increase back in June," Fallon said, as quoted by The Telegraph newspaper.
