The sudden loss of Afghan government forces and the Taliban’s takeover of power stunned Europe, sparking a heated discussion about the consequences for European strategy. While the United States was the driving force behind the Western engagement in Afghanistan and set the policy, other European countries contributed significant troops and resources to the fight. Now that effort is a shambles, Europeans are faced with a slew of inevitable questions. In the first instance, they are concerned with the best means to get their countrymen, as well as those who worked with them, out of harm’s way. However, in the future, they must consider the lessons learned in Afghanistan for their policies on security, stability, relations with the US and other regional powers, and migration, among other things. This collection brings together policy professionals from across the ECFR’s programs to discuss how the Taliban’s control affects Europe’s key interests and significant partners.
NATO
The dramatic conclusion of the Afghanistan mission will unavoidably raise the issue of military interventions in the future. Since 2014, NATO's focus has switched back to its fundamental purpose of deterrence and territorial defense, from out-of-area deployments. NATO member nations are experiencing a wave of intervention weariness. The United States is clearly unwilling to act as the "world's policeman" after the "forever wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan. During the Obama administration, this could already be observed in Syria.
European dependency over the US
As a result, the pressure on Europeans to participate in crisis management in their own backyard has intensified. The European Union will have to increase its commitment to crisis prevention, stability, and peacebuilding in the future. The Europeans' reliance on American skills has been amply proved by the Afghanistan mission. The Europeans would be unable to evacuate their own soldiers and local Afghan forces from Kabul without US military assistance.
Germany Questioned
Simultaneously, the disastrous Afghanistan operation has many Europeans questioning if military deployments are even necessary. Many observers and officials, particularly in Germany, think that the operations in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan have taught us that we should no longer engage in this type of action. Many people wonder what the years of training Afghan armed forces, deploying European soldiers, and investing vast sums of money have yielded.
No more persuasion about
This is to be assumed that European politicians will find it more difficult to persuade their citizens of the benefits and legitimacy of military deployments elsewhere. European member states will have to examine their current military missions, which might have substantial significance for France and Germany's commitment to the Sahel.
No place for the same mistake again
Simultaneously, Europe cannot isolate itself from the world's problems or imagine itself as a blessed island. Instability will come to Europe if Europeans are no longer committed to regulating their surroundings. It is critical not to make the same mistakes that were made in Afghanistan. Rather than overburdening requirements, future military interventions must have a clearly defined and feasible goal, as well as the tools to achieve it.
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