Blinken reassures the “Atlantic”: Washington’s interests first

Although the NATO foreign minister’s summit was dedicated, in part, to discussing the future of international forces in Afghanistan, the lack of clarity of the United States’ plans in this country, and its lack of resolution on the issue of possible withdrawal, will cause it to be postponed until after May, immediately. Without making a decision at the level of allies who want to complete their mission, led by Germany, whose Chancellor, Heiko Maas, warned that “(we) do not want to leave this country since I found it 20 years ago, and we hope to be able to speak concretely with the United States on developments. The next few weeks », while NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that” all options remain open “regarding Afghanistan. But US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who wrapped up the issue of the withdrawal with ambiguity, sought to satisfy his country’s partners by assuring them of the future of “NATO”, saying: “We are determined to strengthen our alliances to strengthen our alliances “. , starting with NATO. “While US President Joe Biden admitted last week that it would be” difficult “for Washington to meet the schedule established under the” Doha Agreement, “Defense Secretary of the United States, Lloyd Austin, after his meeting with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, a few days ago, indicated that the moment of the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan has not yet been decided, and that the decision depends on the US president, stating your country’s desire to end the conflict.

The confusion in the Afghan file was found, instead, with the harmony of the NATO foreign ministers who today continue their meeting in Brussels vis-à-vis Russia, as they warned, in a joint statement issued by them, from the threat of its “aggressive activities” on Euro-Atlantic security. The statement said the alliance “faces increasing threats and systematic competition.” While aggressive Russian activities pose a threat to European-Atlantic security, all forms and manifestations of terrorism remain a constant threat to us all, ”adding that the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting is taking place to reaffirm permanent transatlantic ties between Europe and North America. . The statement reiterated the alliance’s commitment to “the Washington Treaty, including Article Five, which stipulates that an attack on an ally will be considered an attack on all of us,” adding that “the transatlantic partnership will remain the cornerstone of the international order based on mutual defense, political consensus and rules ”.

The United States will continue to pressure Germany to abandon the “Northern Torrent 2” project.

At this time, the United States will continue to pressure Germany to abandon the “Northern Torrent 2” gas pipeline project, between it and Russia, as Blinken confirmed that their country’s opposition to the project would cancel Misa again. On the issue of relations with Turkey, Blinken considered that “NATO” could be strengthened after a period of internal disputes, adding that the Turkish ally should remain in the focus of transatlantic relations. In an interview with Stoltenberg at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Blinken said that despite public differences with Ankara, Washington and “NATO” have a keen interest in preserving Turkey’s close association with the alliance, as he is a “valuable old ally”. The alliance has shown an effective role in reducing tensions in the eastern Mediterranean. In recent years, a fluctuating relationship between Washington and Ankara has prevailed, clouded by disagreements over a number of files, chief of which is the question of Turkey’s purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system and consideration of that system by the United States. As a threat to the “Atlantic” systems and the “F-35” fighters, Stoltenberg commented on this, expressing concern about some “differences of opinion” with Turkey, especially regarding the purchase of the Russian “S-400” system. .

Subscribe to «News» on YouTube here