US, UK defense chiefs meet in DC

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin welcomed his British counterpart, Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace to the Pentagon for bilateral discussions of defense matters Monday.

The two defense chiefs are meeting as the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Scott Miller relinquished his position at a ceremony in the capital of Kabul on Monday, taking the United States a step closer to ending its 20-year war.

The move came as Taliban insurgents continue to gain territory across the country.

Wallace praised Miller and U.S. forces in Afghanistan and said troops from the United Kingdom will complete their drawdown towards the end of August.

In recent weeks, the Taliban have gained several strategic districts, particularly along the borders with Iran, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

While Washington is not saying how many troops remain in Afghanistan, a CENTCOM statement more than a week ago said the withdrawal was 90% complete.

President Joe Biden has reiterated that the U.S. will remain engaged in Afghanistan with humanitarian assistance. The U.S. also is committed to spending $4.4 billion annually to fund Afghanistan’s security forces until 2024.