WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Trump understands the importance of looking at a bigger picture, taking into consideration the impact of Russia, China and other countries on regional stabilization efforts, Taylor added.
"We do need [Russia and China] to help out for the stability of the region, for the stability of Afghanistan," Taylor told MSNBC. "But there is no question about that there are some diverging interests there."
Taylor said during the intreview there seems to be "no end in sight" for the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, which is the longest war the United States has waged having lasted 16 years.
The United States and its allies launched a military operation in Afghanistan in 2001 after the September 11 terror attacks. Washington ended its military mission in Afghanistan in 2014.
On January 1, 2015, NATO announced its new mission in the country, called Resolute Support, to train and assist the Afghan security forces.
At present, the United States has 8,400 troops in Afghanistan in addition to the 5,000 NATO forces deployed there.