[Southern + November 18th] According to Australian media reports, the current US President Trump announced that within a few months the number of US troops in Afghanistan will be halved and the number of US troops in Iraq will be reduced. In this regard, a source in the Australian Government said that this move may affect Australia's decision to continue sending Australian soldiers to participate in the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
Australia currently has about 80 soldiers deployed in Afghanistan, and 110 soldiers are involved in the fight against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. A source in the Australian government said that the sudden withdrawal of US troops may affect Australia's decision on whether to continue to station troops in Afghanistan, but the Australian government will wait for the full details of the US plan and whether it will actually proceed before making a decision. According to Australian media, the withdrawal of the remaining Australian troops from Afghanistan will mark the end of this 20-year military operation. After the United States suffered the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, Australia sent troops to and stationed in Afghanistan together with the United States. to date. A spokesperson for the Australian Department of Defense said: “Australia’s future contributions in Afghanistan and Iraq are made after consultations with our international partners, taking into account their needs, as well as our other military commitments, regional security developments and our National security priorities.” We will also prioritize the security of Afghan National Defense Forces and diplomats. In this regard, we closely coordinate with our international partners. "Z1z
According to reports, Trump’s long-term campaign proposition is that it is necessary to end the U.S. involvement in overseas "endless wars" and to withdraw the military to the country as soon as possible. Trump posted on Twitter last month that he hopes All U.S. troops withdrew from Afghanistan before Christmas, but senior military and national security personnel eventually persuaded him to abandon the full withdrawal plan. Trump fired Secretary of Defense Mark Esper last week, partly because of Egypt Sper and other senior Pentagon officials opposed his plan to quickly reduce the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. According to reports, Esper had warned that the withdrawal could endanger the remaining troops, harm American allies, and disrupt the relationship between the Taliban and the Afghan government. The peace negotiations.
Esper’s successor, US Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, previously stated that he would reduce the number of US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan to 2500 each by January 15 next year. And five days later On the 20th, Biden will succeed Trump as the 46th President of the United States. The leader of the U.S. Republican Senate Mitch McConnell (Mitch McConnell) also rarely parted ways with Trump on the issue of U.S. withdrawal. It warned on Tuesday: "The rapid withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan now will hurt our allies and please those who want us to be hurt. "Nato Secretary-General Stoltenberg also warned that withdrawing troops from Afghanistan too quickly may lead to a resurgence of terrorist activities. He said: "We have been in Afghanistan for nearly 20 years, and no NATO ally is willing to do anything unnecessary. Under the circumstances, stay in Afghanistan again. But at the same time, if we exit prematurely or lack coordination, the cost of exit may be very high, and Afghanistan may once again become a platform for international terrorists to plan and organize attacks on our homeland. "Z1z
proofread by Mou Yuankai
