NATO Countries are Aiming for A Joint Departure from Afghanistan

The NATO force in Afghanistan must withdraw jointly from the country if it is up to Germany.

Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said Wednesday that it is likely that this will happen in September, after the US indicated that all US military personnel left Afghanistan on September 11.

“We have always said: go out together, at home together,” the German minister told broadcaster ARD. “I support an orderly departure and assume that we (NATO) will agree to that today.” Ministers from the US, the United Kingdom, France and Germany will hold separate discussions on Wednesday, but it is also being discussed in a NATO context.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday that Washington is working on a “coordinated” departure in consultation with NATO partners. “We have achieved our goals, and now is the time to bring our troops home.”

The British reported withdrawing nearly all of their approximately 750 soldiers by September 11, according to The Times newspaper.

The September retreat aims to end the longest war waged by the United States and its allies, initially in retaliation for the September 11, 2001 attacks in the US. What is essential is the position of the Taliban. This radical Islamic group only wants to participate in a summit on Afghanistan when all foreign troops have left.