21 April 2026 16:33 UTC · NATO · NATO News · Source · Email X Link

NATO says Gates calls Afghanistan top priority

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Gates: success in Afghanistan top priority
Visit addressed Afghanistan, Kosovo, Iraq and NATO transformation

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US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates visited NATO HQ on 15 January 2007 and met NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
Gates said success in Afghanistan is the top priority and described the mission as a model of NATO’s potential.
Gates said success would require both military and civil effort, particularly reconstruction; ministers will meet in Seville in February to discuss Afghanistan, Kosovo, Iraq and NATO transformation.

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Create an account Reset password Already have an account? Log in From now on you can download videos from our website If you would also like to subscribe to the newsletter and receive our latest updates, click on the button below. Enter the email address you registered with and we will send you a code to reset your password. The password must be at least 12 characters long, no spaces, include upper/lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Click the button to return to the page you were on and log in with your new password. 15 January 2007 1 MIN READ During a visit to NATO HQ on 15 January, the new US Secretary of Defense, Mr. Robert Gates, said success in Afghanistan was a top priority. Mr. Gates met with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to discuss the key issues on the Alliance’s agenda ahead of a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Seville in February. This included NATO’s mission in Afghanistan, the situation in Kosovo and Iraq, and NATO’s continuing transformation. “It is a great pleasure indeed that so soon after his appointment [Secretary Gates] found the time to come to NATO, underlining the importance of the Alliance,” said the Secretary General. “The mission in Afghanistan is a model of the organization’s potential in this new era,” said Mr. Gates, “Success in Afghanistan is our top priority.” Responding to questions from journalists, the Secretary of Defense stressed that this would require both a military and civil effort, particularly in the area of reconstruction. This was Mr. Gates' first visit to NATO HQ since he was sworn in as Secretary of Defense in December 2006. Link was copied to clipboard

NATO says Gates calls Afghanistan top priority

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