President Donald Trump Thursday praised what he mentioned was a “19-year low” within the variety of US troops in Afghanistan, simply days earlier than he’s set to depart the White House on lower than favorable phrases with the general public.
In an settlement reached final 12 months, Trump, who had lengthy promised to finish America’s longest warfare, signed the United States as much as a full withdrawal in coming months.
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But that will depend on the Taliban assembly safety circumstances, which the Afghan authorities says haven’t been met. President-elect Joe Biden and his advisors have to date given few clues as to their plans.
In November, the Pentagon mentioned it might cut back the variety of US forces in Afghanistan from 4,500 to 2,500 by mid-January.
But this month, Congress enacted a protection coverage invoice – overriding a veto by Trump – that bars utilizing funds appropriated for fiscal years 2020 and 2021 to pay for a drawdown beneath 4,000 US troops till performing Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller submits to Congress a “comprehensive, interagency assessment of the risks and impacts.”
It is unclear what number of troops have been moved out of Afghanistan because the regulation handed.
One protection official, talking on situation of anonymity, mentioned the US troop stage already is shut to three,000.
The laws additionally requires a threat evaluation earlier than the variety of US troops might be lowered beneath 2,000.
Apart from Afghanistan, Trump additionally mentioned the variety of US troops in Iraq and Syria have been “also at the lowest point in many years.”
There are an estimated 5,000 troops in Iraq, the place the US has vowed to scale back its presence on the bottom. It stays unclear what number of US army members there are in Syria, however their presence is believed to be within the northeast, close to oil fields.
After having his Twitter account suspended, Trump has needed to revert to utilizing his press workplace on the White House to launch statements.
“I will always be committed to stopping the endless wars,” he mentioned in Thursday’s assertion.
“It has been a great honor to rebuild our military and support our brave men and women in uniform. $2.5 trillion invested, including in beautiful new equipment—all made in the U.S.A.,” Trump mentioned.
Read extra:
US will withdraw troops from Afghanistan in 14 months if circumstances met
US reduces troops in Afghanistan to agreed stage of round 8,600: General
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Last Update: Thursday, 14 January 2021 KSA 22:45 – GMT 19:45
