Total reduction of 2,500 people compared to last November
2,500 US troops stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq each
In December 2018, U.S. presidents Donald Trump and U.S. presidents visit Al-Assad Air Force Base in Iraq to take pictures with U.S. troops. Al Assad = AFP Yonhap News
The US Department of Defense has reduced US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq to 2,500 each. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has 5 days left in office, pushed the long-term goal of reducing US troops overseas.
Acting US Defense Secretary Christopher Miller released a press release on the 15th (local time) and announced the reduction. This is the smallest number of US troops stationed since 2001. “The reduction of US troops in Iraq reflects an increase in the capabilities of Iraqi security forces,” he stressed. The counter-terrorism and Afghan security forces training mission will continue. “Today, the United States is closer than ever to an end to nearly 20 years of war, a political solution and a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire,” he explained.
President Trump said in a statement the previous day that “there are the fewest US troops in Afghanistan in 19 years, and so are Iraq and Syria,” and “will always be committed to ending the endless war.” In November of last year, under the direction of President Trump, the US Department of Defense announced that it would reduce its troops in Afghanistan from 4,500 to 2,500 and the troops in Iraq from 3,000 to 2,500. Concerns in the United States about hasty reductions have not prevented Trump from fulfilling his pledge to return US troops abroad. For the Joe Biden administration, which will be launched on the 20th, the policy position related to overseas dispatch has narrowed.
Although some pointed out that it is a violation of the Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which deals with the US defense budget, the agency reported that no related details were mentioned in this statement. According to the law, the budget cannot be used to reduce the number of people in Afghanistan to less than 4,000. In order to reduce the reduction, the defense minister must submit the results of a comprehensive inter-ministerial assessment of the risks and impacts of the reduction to Congress, but the relevant procedure has not been reported.
The Taliban welcomed the reduction of US troops as “good progress and realistic measures”. In February of last year, the United States agreed with the Taliban, an Islamic armed organization, to complete withdrawal within 14 months through phased cuts. Starting with this agreement, the Taliban are currently negotiating peace with the Afghan government in Doha, Qatar to end war and establish a new political system.
Azalea reporter [email protected]
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