He also welcomed the Biden administration’s commitment to the Alliance after the turbulent Trump years.

Stoltenberg expressed serious concern about the deterioration of the security situation in the Sahel region, but said France had not so far requested assistance from NATO for its renewed operation in the area.

He acknowledged that NATO’s decision to end its military presence in Afghanistan carried "risks” and that the Taliban takeover of the capital Kabul was now a possibility. However, Stoltenberg claimed that NATO had helped train a much stronger Afghan army and that it would continue to support the authorities through military training and civilian support.

The NATO chief praised a proposal by Turkey to monitor and manage Kabul airport after the withdrawal of Western troops, stressing that maintaining control over such an important infrastructure is crucial.

As for Russia, he pointed out that NATO had decided to deploy its largest military presence in Eastern Europe in years in response to Russia’s aggressive behavior.

Finally, the NATO chief welcomed the Biden administration’s commitment to the transatlantic bond and said NATO had proven its worth and resilience despite the Trump years.