What Is Trump's New Strategy On Afghanistan?

After months of waiting President Donald Trump addressed troops at Fort Myer in Virginia, where he has set out a new strategy for Afghanistan and South Asia.

But what does that mean for the UK, what happens now and how has the new strategy been received?

Here is all you need to know... 

What Does This Mean For Britain?

President Trump did not mention the UK in his address. He did, however, speak about NATO in his new Afghanistan strategy.

"We will ask our NATO allies and global partners to support our new strategy with additional troop and funding increases in line with our own."

He reiterated that this is something he has been clear about since taking office. 

As it stands there are about 500 British troops there and around a further 85 had been promised in non-combat roles.   

Currently, there are around 8,400 US troops in the country and Pentagon officials had proposed sending in a further 4,000 to train Afghan forces and fight the Taliban and an affiliate of terror group Islamic State.

Three Fundamental Conclusions: America's Core Interests In Afghanistan

President Trump said last night, that shortly after his inauguration, he instructed Secretary of Defense Mattis and his national security team to undertake a 'comprehensive review of all strategic options in Afghanistan'.

After many meetings over many months, they held a final meeting at Camp Friday on August 18, he has finally arrived at three fundamental conclusions about America's core interests in Afghanistan.

• Seek an honourable and enduring outcome worthy of the tremendous sacrifices that have been made, especially the sacrifice of lives." He believes that the men and women who serve the nation deserve a plan for victory.  
• "A rapid exit is both predictable and unacceptable. A hasty withrdrawal will create a vaccuum that terrorists can fill. After America hastily withdrew from Iraq, soldiers watched as cities they had fought for, and bled to liberate, and won, were occupied by so -called Islamic State."  
• "Security threats in Afghanistan and the broader region are immense. 20 US-designated foreign terrorist organizations are active in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pakistan often gives safe haven to agents of chaos, violence, and terror.  We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars, at the same time they are housing the very terrorists that we are fighting. But that will have to change. And that will change immediately."

These are the three problems that Trump's new Afghanistan strategy will endeavour to solve.

Other Key Lines:

• A core pillar of the new strategy is a shift from "a time-based approach to one based on conditions."

• "We will not talk about numbers of troops or our plans for further military activities." He declined to discuss further details on troop numbers, saying: "America's enemies must never know our plans."

• "Conditions on the ground, not arbitrary timetables, will guide our strategy from now on."

• "Afghans will secure and build their own nation and define their own future. The American military will not be used to construct democracies."

Afghanistan's Government Reaction

Afghan Ambassador Hamdullah Mohib has applauded the strategy and called the president's speech "10 out of 10" saying his country heard "exactly what we needed to".

He believes critics of the speech, who were disappointed that Mr Trump didn't disclose troop numbers, are not focused on the conditions and support needed for Afghanistan to succeed and achieve peace.

The ambassador was also pleased with the President's mention of Pakistan. Mr Trump called Pakistan a safe haven for terrorists.  

Other Senior Officials Reaction

• US Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, praised the Presidents speech, although saying it was a long time coming, he believes the new strategy moved the US well past the Obama administration's "failed strategy of merely postponing defeat."  
• Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Committee, criticised the Trump speech as too vague. He said his plan was in coming and "short on details our troops and the American people deserve".  
• John Nicholson, the top US general in Afghanistan, believes the new strategy would deny the Taliban a military victory.

Taliban Reaction

Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, dismissed Mr Trump's remarks as "old" and "unclear" and added that the Taliban would come out with a more detailed response later.

Last week, in a 1,600-word open letter to Mr Trump, the Taliban warned the President against a troop surge, saying it would prolong what is already the United States' longest war.

The Taliban has also said it is not ready for any peace talks, at least not until the US and Nato give a timescale for withdrawal, something Mr Trump says will not happen.