Changes

NATO took command and co-ordination of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in August 2003. When NATO and some non-member states joined (such as [[Australia]] and [[Japan]]), the initial mission was limited to [[Kabul]], but soon expanded. In 2006, when NATO took over full command over the Afghanistan operation, the [[Taliban]] began a major campaign. Commanders complained that their forces were being restricted by national restrictions, and that they needed more troops. In November 2006, at another NATO summit in [[Riga]], NATO countries removed 15% of restrictions placed on troops. NATO called on member governments to provide more troops to their mission in Afghanistan, but several countries had their resources stretched thin in Kosovo, as well as their mission in [[Iraq]] of training the new Iraqi government's security force.

NATO took command and co-ordination of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in August 2003. When NATO and some non-member states joined (such as [[Australia]] and [[Japan]]), the initial mission was limited to [[Kabul]], but soon expanded. In 2006, when NATO took over full command over the Afghanistan operation, the [[Taliban]] began a major campaign. Commanders complained that their forces were being restricted by national restrictions, and that they needed more troops. In November 2006, at another NATO summit in [[Riga]], NATO countries removed 15% of restrictions placed on troops. NATO called on member governments to provide more troops to their mission in Afghanistan, but several countries had their resources stretched thin in Kosovo, as well as their mission in [[Iraq]] of training the new Iraqi government's security force.

The ''Financial Times'' wrote:<ref>[https://archive.is/JNSAP Nato allies urge rethink on alliance after Biden’s ‘unilateral’ Afghanistan exit], ''Financial Times'', Helen Warrell in London, Guy Chazan in Berlin and Richard Milne in Stockholm AUGUST 17 2021.</ref>

The ''Financial Times'' wrote:<ref>[https://archive.is/JNSAP Nato allies urge rethink on alliance after Biden’s ‘[[unilateral]]’ Afghanistan exit], ''Financial Times'', Helen Warrell in London, Guy Chazan in Berlin and Richard Milne in Stockholm AUGUST 17 2021.</ref>

{{quotebox-float|"After the [[fall of Kabul]], EU defence and security officials have been strikingly critical of the US decision to send home its troops, arguing it has weakened Nato and raised questions about Europe’s security dependence on Washington."}}  

{{quotebox-float|"After the [[fall of Kabul]], EU defence and security officials have been strikingly critical of the US decision to send home its troops, arguing it has weakened Nato and raised questions about Europe’s security dependence on Washington."}}  

Lord Peter Ricketts, the [[UK]]’s former national security adviser, said. “It looks like Nato has been completely overtaken by American unilateral decisions...The Afghanistan operation was always going to end some time, it was never going to go on forever, but the manner in which it’s been done has been humiliating and damaging to Nato.”

Lord Peter Ricketts, the [[UK]]’s former national security adviser, said. “It looks like Nato has been completely overtaken by American unilateral decisions...The Afghanistan operation was always going to end some time, it was never going to go on forever, but the manner in which it’s been done has been humiliating and damaging to Nato.”