NATO: No Afghan counterterror operation foreseen

STORY: Greece NATO Briefing - NATO: No Afghan counterterror operation foreseen

LENGTH: 01:40

FIRST RUN: 1717

RESTRICTIONS:

TYPE: English/Natsound

SOURCE: ERT POOL

STORY NUMBER: 4344639

DATELINE: 18 September 2021 - Athens

SHOTLIST:

RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ERT POOL

Athens – 18 September 2021

1. Wide of news conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee: ++STARTS ON WIDE++

"There is no NATO counterterrorism (CT) operation foreseen, not with Afghanistan. We're not working on that particularly. There is, of course, concerns in the different nations and there is a concern within NATO about the possibility of Afghanistan becoming a safe haven for terrorists again. The time will learn whether or not NATO is then willing, the alliance is willing, to conduct an operation, a CT operation. But for now, that is not on the agenda. That doesn't mean that it will not happen, but it was not discussed now in particular."

3. Cutaway of reporters

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee: ++VARIOUS ANGLES++

"Australia is a partner, but it's not part of the NATO organization. There's many agreements amongst nations that might have an effect on NATO, on the political side of the house. But for now, it will not have an effect, as far as I can see, on the military cooperation within NATO. There might be implications or consequences as a result of this agreement. But I don't foresee at this moment that it will have a direct impact on our cohesion within NATO."

5. Wide of news conference

STORYLINE:

NATO military leaders meeting in Athens on Saturday made it clear that avoiding a resurgence of terrorism in Afghanistan is a key goal for the alliance, but "there is no NATO counterterrorism operation foreseen."

After the meetings between NATO defense chiefs, Admiral Rob Bauer, chair of the NATO Military Committee, told reporters that allies were concerned about a terrorist threat from Afghanistan, but made clear that a NATO operation there was not on the agenda.

"That doesn't mean that it will not happen. But it was not discussed now in particular," Bauer said.

More than 120,000 Americans, Afghans and others were flown out of Afghanistan during the chaotic and massive airlift operation in the days after Kabul fell to the Taliban.

But thousands more were left behind, with many fleeing to the borders and seeking help from aid agencies and ad hoc groups struggling to find ways out of the country.

Bauer also said he didn't believe Australia's surprise cancellation of a major submarine contract in favor of a U.S. deal would have implications for NATO.

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