NATO's Parlamentariske Forsamling 2020-21
NPA Alm.del Bilag 16
Offentligt
2373689_0001.png
NATO FOREIGN AND
DEFENSE
MINISTERS’
MEETING,
14 APRIL 2021
Policy Brief
062 SPE 21 E | Original: English | April 2021
This Policy Brief is presented for information only and does not
represent the official view of the Assembly.
 NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 16: NATO Defence and Foreign Ministers' Meeting 14 April 2021 - Policy Brief
2373689_0002.png
NATO FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTERS MEETING, 14 APRIL 2021:
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Agenda
•
Security Situation in and around Ukraine
•
NATO's Mission in Afghanistan
Decisions
•
Ministers adopted a Joint Declaration on Afghanistan (see annex). They decided to start
withdrawing remaining troops by 1 May and complete the withdrawal within a few months.
Additional notes
•
The meeting, with the participation of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs and NATO Ministers of
Defense, took place by videoconference, with the U.S. Secretary of State and the U.S. Secretary of
Defense present in Brussels. The Secretary General held his concluding press conference together
with both US Secretaries.
•
This was the first visit by Lloyd Austin to NATO headquarters in Brussels since taking office as the
US Secretary of Defense.
•
The NATO-Ukraine Commission met at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on 13 April 2021 in the
presence of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to address the ongoing security situation in
and around Ukraine.
I.
•
SECURITY SITUATION IN AND AROUND UKRAINE
NATO expressed deep concern over
Russia’s military build-up
in and around Ukraine,
the largest
since the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, as well as the ongoing
ceasefire violations
in eastern
Ukraine by Russian proxies.
Allies were unanimous in calling on Russia to immediately terminate the amassment of combat ready
troops in and around Ukraine, urging Moscow to
respect its international commitments, stop
provocations and de-escalate immediately.
Allies expressed regret at Moscow’s
refusal to provide
actual explanations over its unusual military activities.
Commending Ukraine for its restraint, Allies reaffirmed their
unwavering support for Ukraine’s
sovereignty and territorial integrity,
reaffirming that the Alliance does not, and will not, recognise
Russia’s
illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea.
NATO will continue monitoring the situation
closely.
Allies pledged their continuous
significant and practical support for Ukraine,
including with training
for the Ukrainian armed forces, aimed at helping Kiev strengthen its capabilities and be better equipped
to
“provide
for its own security.”
Allies conduct joint exercises with Ukraine and have stepped up
cooperation with more port visits in the Black Sea region.
NATO Allies
stand by the decisions taken at the 2008 Bucharest Summit
[that Ukraine will become
a member of NATO with the Membership Action Plan (MAP) as the next step on its way to membership]
and welcome
Ukraine’s progress in delivering key reforms,
encouraging the country to build on this
progress. In that respect, the Alliance would
continue supporting Kyiv
with a number of
“wide-
ranging reforms”
aimed at making it more resilient and advance its Euro-Atlantic path.
•
•
•
•
BACKGROUND
•
The NATO-Ukraine Commission conducted a meeting at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on 13 April
2021 to address the ongoing security situation in and around Ukraine. The meeting was initiated by
1
 NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 16: NATO Defence and Foreign Ministers' Meeting 14 April 2021 - Policy Brief
2373689_0003.png
Ukraine under Article 15 of the 1997 Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between Ukraine and NATO
1
.
Allies were briefed by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who
proposed ten specific steps for
NATO allies to
“promptly
and meaningfully support [Ukraine] in this situation.
DISCUSSION
•
NATO Secretary General stressed that the Alliance would
“enhance
… cooperation with Ukraine
and Georgia on Black Sea security,
and we are working to make full use of Ukraine’s status as an
Enhanced Opportunity Partner.” While the two parties were building on that basis,
“step by step”
both when it came to political goals and practical activities and cooperation,
the Secretary
General encouraged NATO allies to step up and do more.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister
Kuleba alluded
to a range of measures needed to effectively deter
Russia,
ranging from sanctions or direct support in enhancing Ukraine’s capabilities. Kuleba stressed
that
“the price of prevention,”
although it may appear costly
would ultimately
“be
lower than the price
of stopping the war and mitigating its consequences.”
Asked as to whether Ukraine could become a full NATO member
not having control over its full
territory,
the NATO Secretary General reiterated
Ukraine’s sovereign right to decide its path,
underlining that it was up to the
30 NATO Allies, and to them alone, to decide when the standards
had been met and Ukraine was ready for membership.
Responding to a question on support granted to Ukraine by the United States, Lloyd Austin explained
it had included
non-lethal materials, weapons and training
in the past. He underscored the
determination to maintain that support going forward,
“based on Ukraine’s needs”
and that the United
States was
“committed
to assisting Ukraine with its self-defence needs”. A range of options had been
presented to President Biden.
NATO'S MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN
Allies adopted a
Joint Declaration
on the future of the international troop presence in Afghanistan,
agreeing on an
“orderly,
coordinated and deliberate drawdown”
of the remaining forces from
Afghanistan on the principle of
“in together, adjust together and out together.”
The withdrawal would be conducted in full coordination among NATO Allies and partners,
in lockstep,
adhering to
a coordinated timeframe.
The drawdown would be
initiated before May 1 and
completed
“in
a few months.”
Any
Taliban attacks during the withdrawal would be met with a forceful response.
Allies call on the Afghan government and the Taliban to
adhere to their commitments to the peace
process
initiated by the US-Taliban agreement and the US-Afghanistan Joint Declaration.
While some “unsolved challenges remained,” the
first and foremost objective of
preventing
Afghanistan from becoming a haven for terrorists
and a launching pad for attacks against Allies
had been accomplished. No terrorist attack since 2001 had been conducted from Afghanistan.
Important gains have been made, as the Afghan security forces, now providing security throughout the
country, had been
“built from scratch.”
It is now up to the Afghan people to build sustainable
peace.
Heralding the beginning of a
new chapter of relations with Afghanistan,
anchored in diplomacy,
Allies reaffirm their commitment to
supporting, diplomatically, the
Afghan-owned and Afghan-led
peace process.
•
•
•
II.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1
Article 15 states:
“NATO
and Ukraine will develop a crisis consultative mechanism to consult together whenever
Ukraine perceives a direct threat to its territorial integrity, political independence, or security.”
2
 NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 16: NATO Defence and Foreign Ministers' Meeting 14 April 2021 - Policy Brief
2373689_0004.png
DISCUSSIONS
•
The Secretary General explained the decision for the withdrawal was not an easy one and stressed
that it entailed risks. The alternative would have been a
“long-term,
open-ended military commitment”
in Afghanistan with more troops.
Asked about the move away from a conditions-based approach, the Secretary General stressed that
the
drawdown decision was part of an adjustment that had been ongoing for a while.
While it will continue to provide support to the diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, maintain its support
to the Afghanistan security forces and counterterrorism focus,
the specific outlines and future role
of NATO in Afghanistan
are on the table and
have not yet been decided.
NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg and US Secretary Blinken called on
other countries with a
stake in Afghanistan’s future
to step up their efforts to promote lasting peace and stability.
US Secretary of Defense Austin stressed that the Afghan security forces
are better and more capable
of securing their borders and protecting their fellow citizens.
He reaffirmed the commitment to
continue funding key capabilities,
such as the Afghan Air Force and the Special Mission Wing, as
well as to continue paying salaries for Afghan security forces.
US Secretary Blinken reaffirmed
support for the rights of Afghan women and girls,
advocating for
their meaningful participation in the ongoing negotiations, and their equal representation throughout
society. The Secretary stressed that significant humanitarian assistance will be maintained to those in
need.
•
•
•
•
•
BACKGROUND
•
NATO’s
mission in Afghanistan was the ultimate demonstration of Allied support, having
invoked
Article 5
for the
first and only time
in the Alliance’s history,
after the terrorist attacks on September
11, 2001. Currently,
NATO’s Resolute Support mission
is
10,000-strong with contributions from
35 allied and partner countries.
•
1 May 2021 was the deadline set in the February 2020 US-Taliban agreement and the US-Afghanistan
Joint Declaration for the withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan. The agreement however
also included a number of commitments for the Taliban to fulfill.
•
US and NATO announcements regarding the troop drawdown were coordinated, with US President
Joe Biden speaking to the American people at 20:30 (CET) and NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg,
US Secretary of State Blinken and US Secretary of Defence Austin speaking to the press at 21:00
(CET). These announcements follow weeks of consultation.
•
NATO is going to
continue supporting and working with the government of Afghanistan,
reaffirming its commitment to the Afghan people. To that end, the Secretary-General had conducted
a
conversation with Afghanistan’s
President Ashraf Ghani.
•
Turkey will host the next round of intra-Afghan peace talks starting on 24 April.
ADDITIONAL NOTE
•
US Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary of Defense Austin confirmed the United States would
maintain counterterrorism capabilities in the region, while stressing that the terrorist threat was now
spread out over several other areas of the globe.
•
In discussing the drawdown, Secretary Blinken stressed that the world has changed dramatically and
underlined the need to adjust strategies to
“the
threats of 2021, not those of 2001.” The drawdown
would allow attention to be shifted to the “challenges
that now demand our focus and resource.”
•
Secretary of Defense Austin stressed that
“The president’s decision give
us the opportunity to refocus,
to deter and defeat future adversaries, in no small measure by revitalizing alliances and to meet the
challenges that undermine rules-based order.”
In that context, he singled out the People’s Republic of
China as the
“number
one challenge” as Beijing sought to reshape the international order.
3
 NPA, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 16: NATO Defence and Foreign Ministers' Meeting 14 April 2021 - Policy Brief
Annex 1: North Atlantic Council Ministerial Statement on Afghanistan, 14 April 2021
In 2001, Allies invoked Article 5 of the Washington Treaty for the only time in NATO’s history and went to
Afghanistan together with clear objectives: to confront al-Qaeda and those who attacked the United States
on September 11, and to prevent terrorists from using Afghanistan as a safe haven to attack us. In the
ensuing decades through the investment of blood and treasure, and in partnership with the Islamic Republic
of Afghanistan and its security forces, we have worked together to achieve these goals.
In light of this and recognising that there is no military solution to the challenges Afghanistan faces, Allies
have determined that we will start the withdrawal of Resolute Support Mission forces by May 1. This
drawdown will be orderly, coordinated, and deliberate. We plan to have the withdrawal of all US and Resolute
Support Mission forces completed within a few months. Any Taliban attacks on Allied troops during this
withdrawal will be met with a forceful response.
The conclusion of NATO’s Resolute Support
Mission takes place against the backdrop of renewed regional
and international support for political progress toward peace. We will continue to support the ongoing Afghan-
owned and Afghan-led peace process. We welcome the Istanbul Conference as an opportunity to move the
peace process forward and to reinforce the progress made in Doha. We call on the Afghan government and
the Taliban to adhere to their commitments to the peace process initiated by the US-Taliban agreement and
the US-Afghanistan Joint Declaration.
NATO Allies and partners will continue to stand with Afghanistan, its people, and its institutions in promoting
security and upholding the gains of the last 20 years. Withdrawing our troops does not mean ending our
relationship with Afghanistan. Rather, this will be the start of a new chapter. A sustainable peace in
Afghanistan will have at its foundation an enduring, comprehensive, and inclusive peace agreement that puts
an end to violence, safeguards the human rights of all Afghans, particularly women, children, and minorities,
upholds the rule of law, and ensures that Afghanistan never again serves as a safe haven for terrorists.
NATO assembled one of the largest coalitions in history to serve in Afghanistan. Our troops went into
Afghanistan together, we have adjusted together, and now we are leaving together. We are grateful to all
who served in and supported this mission, including Afghanistan’s security forces.
We honour the sacrifices
of those who paid the ultimate price in service to it.
Resolute Support Mission partner nations associate themselves with this statement
4