If we entered Afghanistan together, then we must also go together / Article / LSM.lv

NATO foreign ministers discussed on Tuesday how to deal with the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan. “If we entered Afghanistan together, then we should jointly assess the situation and jointly decide on our departure,” said Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs (“New Unity”) after the talks.

May 1 is fast approaching, the moment when NATO’s largest member of the United States promised to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan. It is enshrined in an agreement signed last year by then-US President Donald Trump. However, the agreement also stipulates that the Taliban will cease hostilities and sever all ties with terrorists, and that has not happened. That’s why on Tuesday, NATO foreign ministers discussed in person how to solve the dilemma.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken stressed that the US wants to consult with its allies, including on the future presence of US forces in Afghanistan. If the United States decides to leave Afghanistan, it will affect all the allies who have soldiers in that country, including Latvia. It was originally planned that the decision would be taken by NATO defense ministers in February. It didn’t happen, and the debate continued today.

“As we all agreed today – if we entered Afghanistan together, then we should evaluate the situation together and then also make a decision on leaving together,” Rinkēvičs concludes.

“It might still take time, but it’s really a politically, militarily complicated process and you can’t just decide – we’re leaving tomorrow and leaving a vacuum. It’s a problem that everyone is trying to solve right now.”

The withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan is unlikely to take place by 1 May, but it is still difficult to predict the overall decision on long-term action.

The new US Secretary of State Blinken was eagerly awaited in Brussels this week. In the presence, Blinken met with NATO ministers and expressed his commitment to renewing and revitalizing NATO’s transatlantic alliance.

Blinken also reiterated the US objections to the Russian-built Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Blinken is scheduled to meet with the Baltic foreign ministers on Wednesday, when it will become clearer what we can expect from the new US government.

CONTEXT:

Between 1996 and 2001, when the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, the country had Sharia law in place, such as banning women from education, employment and politics. In turn, the accused of theft were punished by cutting off their hands.

The Taliban regime was overthrown in 2001 when a US-led international coalition invaded Afghanistan. Since then, the Taliban have regularly attacked Afghan and foreign soldiers, but the civilian population has suffered the most.

Despite peace talks, violence has increased in Afghanistan.

Since the September 11, 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, Americans have spent more than $ 1 trillion on fighting and reconstruction in Afghanistan. More than 2,000 US troops have been killed, as well as tens of thousands of Afghan troops, Taliban fighters and Afghan civilians.

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