Biden To Speak On NATO Withdrawal From Afghanistan

Excerpts from speech to be given by US President Joe Biden regarding the announcement of the withdrawal of all remaining NATO troops from Afghanistan by 11 September hitting the wires. The announcement was widely expected and confirmed earlier today by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in a video address to the organisation.

• Biden expected to say, "We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan hoping to create the ideal conditions for our withdrawal, expecting a different result."
• "I am now the fourth American president to preside over an American troop presence in Afghanistan. Two Republicans. Two Democrats. I will not pass this responsibility to a fifth."
• "We went to Afghanistan because of a horrific attack that happened 20 years ago. That cannot explain why we should remain there in 2021."
• A total of 9,600 NATO troops remain stationed in Afghanistan, primarily as part of training and stabilisation missions.
• US partners, notably the UK, have raised concerns that a full withdrawal of troops will pave the way for the Taliban to retake control of the country. However, the decision of other major contributors to NATO's mission in Afghanistan was in effect taken by the US administration, with other forces unlikely to be able to guarantee their own security without a US presence.
• The new deadline crosses the date in May originally set for withdrawal by the Trump administration in a deal with the Taliban.