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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 18 november 2020
NATO chief warns of high price if troops leave Afghanistan

By LORNE COOK “Hundreds of thousands of
Associated Press troops from Europe and be-
BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO yond have stood shoulder
could pay a heavy price to shoulder with American
for leaving Afghanistan too troops in Afghanistan, and
early, its chief warned Tues- over 1,000 of them have
day after a U.S. official said paid the ultimate price,”
President Donald Trump Stoltenberg said.
is expected to withdraw “We went into Afghani-
a significant number of stan together. And when
American troops from the the time is right, we should
conflict-ravaged country in leave together in a coor-
the coming weeks. dinated and orderly way. I
NATO has fewer than count on all NATO allies to
12,000 troops from dozens live up to this commitment,
of nations in Afghanistan for our own security,” he
helping to train and advise said.
the country’s national se- The United States is by far
curity forces. NATO’s biggest and most
More than half are not U.S. influential ally. It spends
troops, but the 30-nation al- more on defense than all
liance relies heavily on the the other countries com-
United States for transport, bined.
air support, logistics and But Trump’s term in office
other assistance. It’s unlike- has marked a particularly
ly that NATO could even In this Friday, Sept. 11, 2020 file photo, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a tumultuous time for the or-
wind down its operation ceremony marking the 19th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, at NATO headquarters in Brussels. ganization. He has routinely
without U.S. help. Associated Press berated other leaders for
“We now face a difficult not spending enough on
decision. We have been could rebuild in Afghani- that an executive order NATO will continue its mis- defense, and has pulled
in Afghanistan for almost stan the terror caliphate it is in the works but has not sion to train, advise and out of security agreements
20 years, and no NATO ally lost in Syria and Iraq.” yet been delivered to com- assist the Afghan security that European allies and
wants to stay any longer The U.S. decision comes just manders. forces. We are also com- Canada consider impor-
than necessary. days after Trump installed a NATO took charge of the mitted to funding them tant for their security, such
But at the same time, the new slate of loyalists in top international security effort through 2024.” as the Iran nuclear deal
price for leaving too soon Pentagon positions who in Afghanistan in 2003, two NATO’s security operation and the Open Skies aerial
or in an uncoordinated share his frustration with the years after a U.S-led coali- in Afghanistan is its biggest surveillance pact.
way could be very high,” continued troop presence tion ousted the Taliban for and most ambitious under- French President Emman-
NATO Secretary-General in war zones. harboring former al-Qaida taking ever. uel Macron said last year
Jens Stoltenberg said in a The expected plans would leader Osama bin Laden. It was launched after the that NATO was suffering
statement Tuesday. cut U.S. troop numbers al- In 2014, it began to train military alliance activated from “brain death,” in part
He said Afghanistan still most in half by Jan. 15, and advise Afghan secu- its mutual defense clause due to a lack of U.S. leader-
“risks becoming once leaving 2,500 troops in Af- rity forces, but has gradu- — known as Article 5 — for ship.
again a platform for inter- ghanistan. ally pulled troops out in line the first time, mobilizing all Stoltenberg has refrained
national terrorists to plan U.S. officials said military with a U.S.-brokered peace the allies in support of the from publicly criticizing
and organize attacks on leaders were told over deal. United States in the wake Trump or his decisions since
our homelands. the weekend about the Stoltenberg said that “even of the 9/11 attacks on New Trump came to power in
And ISIS (Islamic State) planned withdrawal and with further U.S. reductions, York and Washington. 2016.q

Dutch virus restrictions to be eased amid falling infections

THE HAGUE, Netherlands and that is positive,” Rutte 100,000 people on Nov.
(AP) — Dutch Prime Min- said. However, he warned 2 to 31.96 new cases per
ister Mark Rutte eased his that the country must re- 100,000 people on Nov. 16.
country’s coronavirus mea- main in a partial lockdown Just over 8,600 people are
sures Tuesday amid falling he imposed in mid-Octo- confirmed to have died
infection rates, allowing ber when Dutch rates of of COVID-19 in the Neth-
public venues including infections were among erlands, though the true
cinemas, museums and li- the worst in Europe. That number is higher because
braries to reopen — with means bars and restau- not everybody who died
limitations on how many rants will stay closed until of a suspected coronavirus
people can visit — after at least mid-December infection was tested.
a two-week closure. The and limits on the number of The Dutch easing came as
venues, which also include visitors people can have at many other countries in Eu-
zoos and swimming pools, home remain at three per rope remain in tough lock-
will be allowed to reopen day. The seven-day roll- downs amid high infection
at midnight Wednesday, ing average of daily new rates, although other coun-
In this Tuesday Sept. 17, 2019, file image, Dutch Prime Minister Rutte said. “The numbers cases in Netherlands fell tries also are beginning to
Mark Rutte arrives at the Knight’s Hall in The Hague, Netherlands. we see are still too high, over the past two weeks see an easing in the rate of
Associated Press
but the trend is downwards from 55.72 new cases per new infections.q