Will Turkey replace the United States in Afghanistan?
Zawia Media Publications
June 29/2021
Will Turkey replace the United States in Afghanistan?
The Turkish armed forces is the second largest standing military force within the NATO after the United States armed forces with an assessed strength in 2015 of 639,551 military, civilian and fighter personnel. It is important to mention that the Turkish armed forces that are working in NATO exist also in Afghanistan for a long period of time. After offering to host the peace talks in Turkey, the Turkish government is now offering to take the role of U.S in Afghanistan and work on peace and security, but why?
Biden administration decided to withdraw all the US security forces from Afghanistan by 9/11/2021. As the US moves to withdraw its military from Afghanistan over the next five months, deep concerns are growing about the possible conflict after the movement of the international forces. This action would affect vastly in each and every Afghan’s life regarding the security, economic and most importantly women and education. Taliban having power in the government of Afghanistan will lead to a close down of all schools universities and jobs, especially for girls and women. If the U.s withdraws its entire military forces from Afghanistan, then all the other investments like the U.S embassy scholarships that are provided for the Afghan students will be wasted. After this decision was made by the US government, many other countries started to follow the path. That is a big concern for Afghanistan and its future. A lesson learned from this case would be not leave a mission for peace building and security unfinished. Or at least have a proper strategy for an issue you are trying to tackle and solve in a warzone.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said Turkey would be the "only reliable" country left to stabilize Afghanistan after the US pulls out its troops, indicating Washington could rely on its NATO ally. In addition to that Turkish president Erdogan also said he would discuss the issue in his first face-to-face meeting with US President Joe Biden on the margins of a NATO summit in Brussels on Monday, after strained relations between their two countries. The United States is in the final stages of completing a military drawdown, alongside NATO forces, by September 11. Turkish government has reportedly said it is prepared to keep troops in Afghanistan to protect Kabul airport, the main exit route for western diplomats and humanitarian workers but it is not clear for how long. Turkey has reportedly said it is prepared to keep troops in Afghanistan to protect Kabul airport, the main exit route for western diplomats and humanitarian workers. "America is preparing to leave Afghanistan soon and from the moment they leave, the only reliable country to maintain the process over there is obviously Turkey," Erdogan told reporters at an Istanbul airport on Sunday before leaving for Brussels.
Furthermore, ever since the announcement of the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan, many other embassies have started to close down their offices and withdraw their armed forces from Afghanistan. Turkey is an exception however. After the withdrawal announcements, one of the only countries that did not only follow the path of the United States but actually say that they will remain committed to Afghanistan and peace in Afghanistan is Turkey. Turkey is within the NATO forces in Afghanistan without the brand in combat operations, but in the recent period and after the United States announced the withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan and in light of Turkish fears of the continuation of US sanctions due to the S-400 deal and because of the weak Turkish position, Erdogan may make sacrifices American temptations for the Turkish forces to stay and to play America’s role as a guard for Afghanistan after the American forces leave, and the question is, will Turkey play America’s role in confronting the Taliban militarily? Turkey’s airport security offer may be in part a goodwill measure to convince Washington to ease sanctions on Ankara after its acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system and allow it back into a U.S.- Led F-35 fighter jet program In a Tuesday media briefing an anonymous Biden administration official denied any connection between the S-400 deal and Turkish airport security in Kabul.
The Taliban have rejected a Turkish security presence at the airport following the United States’ withdrawal. However, this week, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced that the alliance had agreed to transitional funding for the airport and hinted at a key Turkish role, suggesting negotiations are continuing.
- 2021 Jun - 29
