French President Emmanuel Macron has called on his ministers and army chiefs to work on the country's military postures in Africa, amid the complete withdrawal of thousands of its troops from Mali.

Russia has denounced "unfounded accusations" by the US and NATO on troop withdrawal from Ukraine.

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic says his country would withdraw its troops from NATO forces in Eastern Europe if there occurs an escalation of tensions with Russia over Ukraine.

The US is deploying around 2,000 troops to Iraq despite the announcement to end the American combat mission in the Arab country, The New York Times reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin strongly criticizes the West's two decades of war and occupation in Afghanistan under the pretext of promoting democracy in the country, stressing that democracy can't be imposed from the outside.

The Taliban and their supporters celebrate defeating the United States and the group's total return to power in several cities across Afghanistan, after the last US soldier left the country.

House Republicans have called for a vote on legislation that would keep American troops in Afghanistan until all Americans are evacuated.