Speech SACEUR address at the Security and Defence Agenda Roundtable Links The Security & Defence Agenda

“Today we ask if Afghanistan is NATO’s last frontier.  Many pundits tie success in Afghanistan to NATO’s future, arguing that failure would be the undoing of the Alliance.  Undoubtedly, success in Afghanistan is linked to the role the alliance will have in the future, but truth be told, this conflict is not uniquely NATO’s to win or lose.  Rather it is for the government of Afghanistan’s and the international community’s, collectively, to win or lose.  NATO’s role, while challenging, is narrowed to providing the safe and secure environment that will enable the conditions for good governance and reconstruction and development,” said General John Craddock, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, during a speech to the Security and Defence Agenda Roundtable on the 6th of October. His speech was focused on NATO and its role in Afghanistan.

Here are some other quotes from the speech:

“The government of Afghanistan has the responsibility to tackle the narcotics problem, but it cannot do it alone.  Numerous hurdles stand in the way. The nascent Afghan counter-narcotics force is just that – nascent.  It is currently unable to conduct that essential mission autonomously, but other parties of the international community can and must blur the borders and play a greater role.  NATO has the ability, with current means and capabilities in theatre, to make a tremendous impact.  And, the U.N. has called on NATO to do more to combat the narcotics trade.  Now is the time.”

“In the end, I believe the overarching strategy of the international community is correct, but we must find a way to enhance our comprehensive approach toward success.  We need a cohesive and coherent effort replete with cooperation and coordination, building on common strengths and off-setting persistent shortfalls.”

“To speculate that Afghanistan is the far limit of expeditionary operations is to fly in the face of a role mandated by our heads of state and government at the Riga Summit and reaffirmed in Bucharest – our role as an institute for crisis response.  Limiting that role would serve to limit NATO’s relevance here in the 21st century.  Today, regional crises have global impact and necessitate global response.”