Countries collaborating with the United States in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in the Middle East will back out of the coalition over time, US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General Lloyd Austin predicts, RIA Novosti reports.
"It's not unreasonable to think that one or more countries may decide that they need to do something to focus on something else at some point in the future," Gen. Austin said Thursday at an Atlantic Council event in Washington, DC.
Speaking of the military efforts of the 30-plus nation coalition to defeat IS and restore Iraq's territorial sovereignty, Gen. Austin said, "I'm not sure it will take decades...I don't see decades, it will take years".
Whether or not the coalition stays together over the long-term "is going to depend on each country's self-interest," Gen. Austin continued, adding that the role of the United States is to "manage the various interests" among the allies.
Members of Anti-Islamic State Coalition may drop out over time
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