WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, and U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) hosted NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for a meeting on Capitol Hill with members of the Senate NATO Observer Group. Shaheen and Tillis serve as co-chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group, which they re-established in 2018. Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD), John Barrasso (R-WY) and Angus King (I-ME) also participated in the meeting.

Shaheen and Tillis’ meeting followed a virtual gathering they hosted last month with 26 Ambassadors and heads of mission from NATO member countries on U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“I appreciated NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg’s meaningful dialogue with members of the Senate NATO Observer Group. Our meeting included Senators from both sides of the aisle, reaffirming the commitment of this body and the U.S. government to strengthening the transatlantic alliance that has maintained our world order and global security for more than seventy years,” said Senator Shaheen. “Our NATO partners rallied to our side in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks and fought beside U.S. troops on the battlefield for two decades. Today we had the opportunity to discuss our enduring partnership and the withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan, in addition to other issues of critical importance, which included countering China’s growing influence and Russian aggression, fostering stronger relationships within the alliance and much more. As co-chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group and Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee that oversees Europe, I’ll continue to prioritize objectives that strengthen our European partnerships to bolster U.S. national security and sustain our global stability.”

“Following the terrorist attacks on 9/11, many of our NATO allies sent troops to Afghanistan to fight with us against the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Our allies were justifiably concerned with the withdrawal process from Afghanistan, the humanitarian crisis it created, and concerned with the likelihood it will once again become a sanctuary for terrorists,” said Senator Tillis. “NATO has been the most successful alliance in modern history, ensuring the safety and security of the United States and our allies against evolving threats. Today’s meeting with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg was a productive conversation to reaffirm and strengthen our relationship with our NATO partners and work closely with our NATO allies in addressing the humanitarian and security crisis in Afghanistan and other threats worldwide.”

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