President Joe Biden has said that the May 1 deadline for withdrawing American troops from Afghanistan will be “difficult to fulfill”, during his first press conference today since taking office.
The president quoted “tactical motives” for the delay, but stressed that it is not his intention “stay there too long”.
Biden said it was important for the US military to depart in a safe and orderly manner, and added that he was coordinating with NATO allies who also have troops in the region.
The president has said before that it would be difficult to meet the May 1 deadline to remove the remaining 2.500 US troops. That deadline was set by former President Donald J. Trump at 2020, according to published reports.
The US military has been in Afghanistan for 16 years, making the war in that country the longest conflict in US history, spanning three presidential istrations.
Source: US Department of Defense
