U.S. President Joe Biden is a “strong supporter” of NATO and the alliance can be further strengthened with him in office, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said this week.
“President Biden and his inauguration as the new president represent a new chapter for our alliance because Joe Biden is such a strong supporter of NATO. He knows NATO very well,” the head of NATO said on Thursday. NATO to Hadley Gamble of CNBC.
This will be an opportunity to further strengthen NATO, he added, noting that Biden wants to rebuild alliances.
The U.S. commitment to NATO reached a low point under former President Donald Trump. He repeatedly attacked the Allies to pay less than their fair share to the group.
Stoltenberg said he hopes to work with the new administration to address issues around the world.
“We face so many challenges at the same time: the rise of China, the … change in the balance of world power, a more assertive Russia that uses force against the neighbors of Ukraine and elsewhere and, of course, the constant threat of terrorist attacks, ”he said.
“None of us can address this alone, we need to stay together,” he said. “I don’t believe in just America, I don’t believe in just Europe, I believe in Europe and North America together in NATO.”
US troops and NATO presence in Afghanistan, Iraq
Separately, Stoltenberg intervened in the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and Iraq.
“We should be careful [about] “Don’t leave too early,” he said. “At the same time, no one wants to stay in Afghanistan or Iraq longer than necessary.”
The Pentagon announced last week that the number of U.S. troops in the two countries has dropped to 2,500, according to Trump’s indications when he was president.
His administration signed an agreement with the Taliban in February that seeks a permanent ceasefire in Afghanistan and would reduce the U.S. military presence in the country.
What matters to me is that we make decisions together, that we are coordinating everything we do in Afghanistan.
NATO also has personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Stoltenberg said NATO is in close consultation with the new US administration. “We will face a difficult dilemma,” he said.
Letting go runs the risk of losing the gains made in Afghanistan in the fight against international terrorism and making social progress, but staying means getting involved in a “difficult military conflict.”
“What matters to me is that we make decisions together, that we are coordinating everything we do in Afghanistan,” he said.
NATO plans to expand its presence in Iraq, Stoltenberg added.
“I firmly believe that the best way to help prevent ISIS terrorists from returning is by training Iraqi forces and helping them fight themselves,” he said.
– CNBC’s Matt Clinch contributed to this report.