Shadow of Afghanistan plans on NATO assembly in Lisbon – 11/10/2021
“The crisis in Afghanistan does not alter the need for Europe and North America to remain united in NATO,” noted the Organization’s Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg.
The international community, he added, must preserve the achievements achieved during 20 years of presence in Afghanistan and help evacuate Afghans at risk.
Stoltenberg said the new ones corrected the need for transatlantic alliances and, among the bloc’s challenges, referred to “Russia to” interfere “in Western democracies, China’s use of power to “control its own people” , cyberterrorism or climate change.
The president of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, also alluded to the Afghan case to criticize what he considered an “insufficient dialogue” between allies on the withdrawal, an embarrassing solution to say the least.”
In his opinion, NATO must convey “a strong and clear message of cohesion, unity and solidarity” and strengthen the ties between its members “by improving our information and our foresight, especially where we have been active for a long time, such as in Afghanistan”.
The Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, called for an effort of solidarity between the partners in the North Atlantic and questioned how “crises of confidence” opened up in the Afghan process.
“The Atlantic Alliance’s strategic center of gravity is its cohesion”, he pointed out, which is why it is “fundamental” that the allies “transmit a message of unity”.
Both the secretary-general of NATO and the Portuguese leaders pledged to strengthen collaboration between the organization and the European Union to face common challenges.
“NATO and the European Union are not competitors but partners,” stated Costa.
Among the challenges facing the alliance, the Portuguese prime minister highlighted the risks of terrorism in the Sahel and piracy in the South Atlantic and called for closer ties with allies in Africa, Latin America and the Indo-Pacific region.
The meeting planned to advance in the preparation of the document that will be approved at the next NATO summit, scheduled for June 29 and 30, 2022 in Madrid.
The Lisbon act has the participation of members of the organization, defense experts and legislators from the 30 member states. In addition, the visit of the present of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, who will be distinguished with the Women’s Prize for Peace and Security, is expected. EFE