Author: Bernd Debusmann Jr

On behalf of the United States of America, I extend our congratulations to the government and people of Mauritania on the 64th anniversary of Mauritania’s independence. Mauritania exemplifies resilience in Africa and has made significant strides in governance, economic development, and regional security. We commend Mauritania’s efforts to foster democratic principles and strengthen civilian-led democratic institutions, address human rights concerns, support refugees, and promote inclusive economic growth. The United States is committed to our strong partnership in the fight against terrorism, which is critical to the security of both the Mauritanian and American people. We aim to deepen our cooperation…

Reporting from the NATO summitWe’re now hearing from US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, who began by talking about NATO’s history and how the principle of collective security was formed in the wake of the Second World War. He noted that the “first and only time” NATO’s Article 5 was invoked was after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US. Article 5 sets out that an attack on one member of the NATO military alliance is an attack on all. “NATO stood by us,” he says. “We’re going to stand by NATO”. Looking forward, Austin said the US will “not…