Damage control: U.S., NATO officials scramble to patch up trans-Atlantic rifts

(Worthy News) – U.S. and NATO officials worked overtime on both sides of the Atlantic on Tuesday to patch up rifts in the alliance and to tamp down tensions between key members on Afghanistan, a controversial submarine deal, China and other fronts.

In Washington, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg used a major speech at Georgetown University to push back on the growing narrative that the Biden administration’s abrupt, unilateral military withdrawal from Afghanistan has sparked a backlash in Europe and fueled questions in NATO capitals about the reliability of the U.S. as a security partner. He also argued that Australia’s decision to spurn France and instead strike a nuclear submarine agreement with the U.S. and Britain hasn’t caused any long-term damage.

Regional analysts, however, say it remains to be seen whether the deal, commonly known as AUKUS, carries lasting effects. While France and the U.S. already are showing clear signs they want to move on, specialists contend that the relationship between Paris and London remains as strained as it has been in decades. [ Source: Washington Times (Read More…) ]

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