US 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 new president are a new chapter for our alliance, because Joe Biden is such a strong supporter of NATO. He knows NATO very well,” NATO chief told CNBC’s Hadley Gamble on Thursday. .
This will be an opportunity to further strengthen NATO, he added, noting that Biden wants to restore alliances.
US commitment to NATO hit rock bottom under former President Donald Trump. He repeatedly attacked allies for paying less than their fair share to the group.
Stoltenberg said he is looking forward to working with the new government to address issues around the world.
“We are facing so many challenges at the same time: the rise of China, the … shift in the global balance of power, a more assertive Russia using violence against neighbors in Ukraine and elsewhere, and then of course the constant threat of terrorist attacks,” said he.
“None of us can handle this alone, we have to get up together,” he said. “I don’t just believe in America, I don’t just believe in Europe, I believe in Europe and North America together in NATO.”
US forces and NATO presence in Afghanistan, Iraq
Separately, Stoltenberg weighed in on the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and Iraq.
“We have to 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 US troops in both countries had been reduced to 2,500, as stated by Trump when he was president.
His government signed an agreement with the Taliban in February that aims for a permanent ceasefire in Afghanistan and that would reduce the US military presence in the country.
It is important to me that we make decisions together, that we coordinate 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 be faced with a difficult dilemma,” he said.
Leaving would risk losing the gains made in Afghanistan in fighting international terrorism and making social progress, but remaining means continued involvement in a “difficult military conflict”.
“What matters to me is that we make decisions together, we coordinate everything we do in Afghanistan,” he said.
NATO plans to expand its presence in Iraq, Stoltenberg added.
“I firmly believe that the best way we can help prevent ISIS terrorists from returning is by training Iraqi forces and helping them fight the terrorists themselves,” he said.
– CNBC’s Matt Clinch contributed to this report.