Trump Makes No Decision on Strategy Toward Afghanistan

U.S. President Donald Trump and his top defense and diplomatic teams met at Camp David and reviewed an array of options for a strategy on Afghanistan, but no decisions emerged from the meeting.

The meeting included Defense Secretary James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, CIA Director Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster. Vice President Pence cut short a trip to South America to attend the meeting.

The White House said in a statement that Trump “was briefed extensively by his national security team on a new strategy to protect America’s interests in South Asia.”

“The President is studying and considering his options and will make an announcement to the American people, to our allies and partners, and to the world at the appropriate time,” the statement said.

On Thursday, Mattis told reporters at the State Department that the Trump administration “will move this toward a decision” on Afghanistan during the retreat at Camp David.

In June, Mattis confirmed that Trump granted him the authority to set troop levels in Afghanistan. However, without the president signing off on a full strategy, the defense secretary has not made any changes to troop levels.

Mattis has reportedly been considering a plan from General John Nicholson, commander of U.S Forces-Afghanistan, who said the US needs an additional 3,000-5,000 troops to be successful in the region.