BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, released the following statement today in response to President Trump’s announcement on U.S. strategy in Afghanistan:

“I look forward to studying the strategy outlined tonight by President Trump in greater detail in the coming days, but I am hopeful this path forward will support our country’s national security and help stabilize the region. It has always been my belief that achieving our goals in Afghanistan requires a realistic alignment of our resources and policies with the strategic objectives. Our military commitment and troop levels are a critical part of this strategy, but it also requires the appropriate commitment of other elements of our national power, including our diplomatic, intelligence, and economic means, and the recognition that other actors in the region have a significant impact on the ability to achieve our goals.

“Our principal national security interest in Afghanistan is to prevent it from ever again becoming a terrorist safe haven like it was prior to the September 11th attacks. This requires – in part – a reliable partnership with a functional Afghan government.

“I applaud the President for recognizing the critical role Pakistan, India, and other regional nations play in determining the stability of the region. To that end, we must be clear in what we expect and need from these nations and what we are willing to do to shape their behavior if necessary. 

“Finally, while I agree with the President that any troop withdrawal be on a condition-based timeline, I believe it is equally as important, particularly to our U.S. servicemembers currently in uniform and to the men and women who have sacrificed so much in this war over the past sixteen years, that we move forward with clear goals and great care to honor those sacrifices and support their mission to achieve a more stable region and a safer world. 

“I look forward to working in the U.S. Senate and on the Armed Services and Intelligence Committees to advance a strategy that will protect our interests across South Asia and the Middle East and continue our efforts to keep us safe at home.” 

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