Question:
On November 19 and 20, 2010, a summit was held in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, bringing together major powers and NATO member states. It was announced that these countries agreed on a new strategy for the alliance, which included important topics such as Afghanistan, the missile defense shield, and the relationship with Russia. They also approved the expansion of the alliance's mandate to extend beyond its traditional region to any place in the world where the alliance perceives a threat. Is America serious about withdrawing from Afghanistan? What is its objective with the missile defense shield? Why did it want to expand NATO's powers? What is the Russian position on all of this? Was America able to dictate its terms to these countries? And was it able to strengthen its international position?
Answer:
1- What appeared from the final statement of the summit and the statements regarding NATO's strategy in Afghanistan indicates a permanent presence. Afghanistan is considered a vital issue for the alliance. NATO Secretary-General Rasmussen stated: "We have agreed with President Hamid Karzai on a long-term partnership that will continue after the end of our combat mission." He added: "To put it simply, if the Taliban or others hope for our departure, they can forget about it; we will stay as long as necessary to finish the job." (BBC 20/11/2010). The final statement emphasized that "the mission in Afghanistan is a priority for the alliance." Obama had called on NATO leaders gathered in Lisbon to "reaffirm their lasting commitment in Afghanistan." (El País 19/11/2010). The German news agency (DPA) reported on 20/11/2010 that "it is expected that control will be transferred in the first provinces to the Afghan side by July of next year, while NATO forces maintain security control in the most dangerous areas until 2014, taking on a supporting role after that date." This indicates that America wants to pretend to withdraw from safe areas—those without significant resistance from the mujahideen—to show that it is fulfilling the promises made by President Obama to begin withdrawal in July 2011. This portrays to the American people and the public that it has fulfilled its promises—as if America has achieved its goals and is about to withdraw completely—but these forces will continue to exist until 2014 in the most dangerous areas. This is a circumvention of the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan, and the occupation remains until that date and beyond. America is working in Afghanistan to implement a policy similar to the one it followed in Iraq, ensuring its permanent presence under the names of security agreements, strategic partnerships, or otherwise. At this summit, America pressured Europe to continue its support in Afghanistan. Many Europeans are forced to stay alongside America because this war brings them no gain—all gains go to America—while they simultaneously suffer from financial distress and their people see no benefit in continuing this war.
2- As for the subject of NATO's relationship with Russia, a summit was held between NATO countries and Russia under the name of the (Russia-NATO Council) session. This relationship was discussed after it had been frozen following the Georgia crisis in August 2008. It was announced at the summit that the alliance countries no longer consider Russia an enemy or a threat, which is a first, and it is on the verge of declaring a strategic partnership with the alliance. Russian President Medvedev stated: "The stage of coldness and mutual claims in relations between Russia and NATO has ended." He said: "We look to the future with optimism and are trying to develop relations between Russia and NATO in all directions" (Russia Today 20/11/2010). However, he pointed to outstanding differences, such as the Georgia issue, commenting that "this issue should not become an obstacle," and referred to other differences without naming them, saying: "they should not lead to a break in relations." (Ibid.). He mentioned that "Russia and NATO countries agreed to continue discussing the issue of the European missile defense shield," adding that "the NATO countries themselves do not imagine the consequences that could result from this shield... however, it must be comprehensive and not serve a specific country or group of countries over others." He also added: "The emergence of a missile defense system may destroy the balance of nuclear forces, and that must be avoided because changing this balance will ultimately lead to an arms race." (Ibid.). This source also mentioned Medvedev's statement that Moscow offered NATO the creation of a so-called "sectoral" missile defense system without clarifying the details of this proposal.
It is understood from the Russian President's statements that a final agreement has not yet been reached between Russia and NATO on the missile shield and the partnership between them. Russia is still apprehensive about it, as he mentioned that NATO countries themselves do not imagine the consequences of installing the missile shield. He seems to be referring to the European countries that do not know the consequences—that they will fall under full American control and that this will cause global tension, bringing security concerns back to them. Medvedev points to the concern of an arms race, meaning that other countries, led by his own, will work to develop their weapons to face the new reality created by America—to defend themselves and stand in the face of America, which will dominate other countries because the defenses established by America are fortified and will work to intimidate other parties to subject them to its policies.
Obama admitted that a final agreement with Russia had not been reached on this issue, saying: "We have made many efforts in resetting relations between the United States and Russia, a process that has led to specific results for both parties. Now we are resetting relations between NATO and Russia." He added: "We see Russia as a partner, not a rival; we agreed to deepen our cooperation in several areas, the most important of which is cooperation in the field of missile defense." (Russia Today 20/11/2010). Russia did not get what it longed for; therefore, no final agreement was reached between it and NATO—meaning between it and America—regarding the missile shield and the partnership. It wants negotiations to continue until it gets something important for itself. It is willing to agree and does not reject it entirely; its main goal is to be a partner with America in managing world affairs as it was during the Soviet era, so it can be considered a great power. It does not want to be a follower of America, whether by joining NATO or through other forms of subordination. It wants to be distinguished as a major power with an independent international policy. Medvedev stated: "Either we participate fully, exchange information, and are tasked with solving these issues or those, or we do not participate at all. Russia will not accept being just an appendage to the alliance. If we do not participate at all, then we will be forced to defend ourselves for understandable reasons." (Agence France-Presse 21/11/2010). Medvedev also mentioned: "He does not see the possibility of Russia joining NATO, but he did not rule out the chance of a close rapprochement between the two sides if the alliance changes and achieves greater transparency in relations between them." He announced that "Russia agreed to transfer shipments to Afghanistan through its territory." (Russia Today 20/11/2010).
Russia has agreed to cooperate with the alliance countries to transport its equipment through its territory to Afghanistan. This is a free service provided by Russia to America in the hope of obtaining some gains from it at a time when it has not received anything from America. Although Russia believes that the situation in Afghanistan could threaten it if NATO is defeated by the mujahideen there, an American victory there will threaten its influence—the influence of Russia—in the Central Asian region. Russia must calculate this and remember that its defeat during the Soviet era in Afghanistan enabled America to reach this region. Thus, it appears that America wants to take everything from Russia without giving it anything but empty promises. It does not want to involve Russia in solving world issues but rather in missions related to its service under the name of partnership with NATO, and not with America directly on equal footing. Russia has not fully fallen into the trap, even though it is hovering around the deceptive bait because of its readiness to negotiate and its desire to be a full partner!
3- As for the missile defense system, it is intended to establish full American hegemony over Europe, placing it under its protection and constantly creating security concerns to tighten its grip and prevent it from becoming an independent global power that competes with America. It makes Europe neglect developing its own military strength; rather, it makes it neglect its nuclear arsenal so that it no longer has value when it is frozen and not developed or modernized. This is what France feared and is trying to avoid. It concluded an agreement with Britain to modernize their nuclear arsenals and develop nuclear technology during a summit between the two parties earlier this month, on 2/11/2010. The two parties also agreed to establish a joint military intervention force from their troops to be independent in their decision-making from America and to carry out actions that serve their interests away from its hegemony. However, what resulted from the Lisbon Summit, and Britain's lack of opposition to the missile shield proposed by America, indicates the weakness of their position and their despair of achieving anything in this summit where American control was evident.
The missile shield plan is defensive in form, but its content is offensive, aiming to combat what is called "terrorism," "rogue states," weapons of mass destruction, and the threat of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. This means that America, in the name of NATO, confirmed the policy it has followed since the beginning of this century, especially after the events of September 11, 2001. Some countries, including France and Germany, initially opposed it, and naturally Russia as well, but the Lisbon Summit contained the position of France and Germany and softened Russia's stance. This is considered a success for America and an authorization for it to continue its aggressive policy. America's policy during the Bush era was without the approval of others, but its current policy during the Obama era is an extension of his predecessor's policy, yet it proceeds by taking the approval of others.
4- As for the new plan and strategy of expanding NATO's powers and its field, it perpetuates the existence of NATO, which should have been abolished after the reason for its establishment vanished—the fall of the Soviet Union, Communism, and the Warsaw Pact. It perpetuates its existence by inventing new enemies and fabricating actions that threaten NATO countries. Although the summit did not explicitly name the supposed enemy of NATO, nor specifically what is meant by the missile shield, the discussion about placing the missile shield in Turkey shows that the target is the Islamic region to prevent it from obtaining the means of power or establishing the Khilafah. This demonstrates the extent of the hatred that the colonialist disbelievers (al-kuffar al-musta'mirun) harbor toward Islam and Muslims, and it also reveals the magnitude of the crime committed by the rulers of Turkey when Turkey becomes the site for the missile shield!
5- The conclusion is that America, at this summit, was able to impose its hegemony over NATO countries and dictate its will to them, especially over Western Europe, to keep it under its protection and prevent its independence and the formation of an independent force. It softened Russia's opposition to its plans; no major power stood in its way or disrupted its plans or reshuffled the cards. Thus, through this summit, America has reinforced its international position, which was shaken following the financial crisis and its setbacks in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, the expansion of the alliance's powers and the discussion of Turkey as a location for the missile shield revealed the danger of this summit to Islam and Muslims. It is duty-bound for Muslims to realize this danger and cut it off at its roots by working seriously and diligently to establish the Khilafah, which will turn the plots of the colonialist disbelievers back against them and turn their schemes into their own destruction.
وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَنْصُرُهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ
"And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might." (Surah Al-Hajj [22]: 40)