Link to article: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/4/macron-eu-afghanistan
French President Emmanuel Macron said European nations were considering opening a joint diplomatic mission in Afghanistan, but clarifying that they still would not recognise the Taliban as the leaders of the country. “We are thinking of an organisation between several European countries … a common location for several Europeans, which would allow our ambassadors to be present,” Macron told reporters in Doha before heading to his next destination, Saudi Arabia. The EU has additionally suggested that they may open a mission soon, not including recognition of the Taliban. Macron also praised Qatar’s role, during his visit to Doha, in assisting with evacuation efforts of European citizens inhibiting Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power after the West backed government collapsed. Afghanistan’s new rulers have appealed to the international community for diplomatic recognition and the lifting of sanctions following the United States freezing $10B in Afghan central bank reserves, plunging the heavily aid-dependent economy into crisis and leaving economists and aid groups warning of a humanitarian catastrophe. The UNDP (The United Nations Development Programme) has projected that poverty may become nearly universal by mid-2022.
This is an interesting event that will be something to follow over the coming years in the newly Taliban led state. Obviously these nations want to have some sort of diplomatic connection with Afghanistan, but I feel like it will be hard to keep somewhat amicable relations while not recognizing the government. The possible humanitarian crisis will likely cause widespread turmoil throughout the area as most of the surrounding countries don’t have the best industry/economy and I’m not sure how they will handle a large influx of people. I’m not sure how the United States will follow in all of this, since it was their propped up government that collapsed in the first place. Will they attempt to do the same thing as France and the EU and get diplomats in the area?
This connects to what we are learning in class as France, and all the EU countries need to think about whether getting diplomats in Afghanistan is in their national interest or whether it would just be a lost cause. Additionally, all western countries need to look at whether it will be helpful to help the humanitarian crisis, or would it be in their interest, as morbid as it is, to let the state fail the people and hope for a change in government.