Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to NATO Headquarters on Wednesday (14 April 2021), thanking him for his leadership and the “strong US commitment to our Alliance”. On Afghanistan, Mr. Stoltenberg said “we went in together, we adjusted our presence together and we will also leave together”, underscoring the importance of close consultations going forward.
The Secretary General said they would also discuss Russia’s aggressive actions in and around Ukraine, and NATO’s support for Kyiv. Mr. Stoltenberg said he would also address preparations for the upcoming NATO Summit with Secretary Austin, including the NATO 2030 agenda. The Secretary General earlier met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and the two US Secretaries will later participate in a meeting of the North Atlantic Council by video conference with all Allied foreign and defence ministers.
Read the remarks by the Secretary General and the US Secretary of Defense here.