The EU certainly does not have the means, nor the vocation, to replace NATO, but it must define its strategic interests and it cannot remain in the background
Media mentions – Afghanistan
They will want to see as if they can position Turkey as a diplomatic conduit, as a diplomatic sort of go-between, between western countries and the Taliban
For too long, the Germans in particularly have skirted around military issues of all kinds
Europeans need to improve the readiness of their armed forces across the board [but] Afghanistan will probably not move the needle much in terms of public support for raising defence spending
It showed, basically, how dependent we really are, because then it was immediately clear that we needed to follow the American withdrawal, and withdraw, as well
The structure of this operation … was that the Americans would control it. And not only was it something the Europeans accepted, it was something the Europeans actively wanted
The newsletter on foreign policy refers to several of ECFR’s Afghanistan commentaries and interviews
The old deal is no longer on offer, and continuing to rely on it is a dangerous irresponsibility
The US must once again play a leading role in the circle of democracies, no longer as a hegemon but as first among equals
ECFR Council member Timothy Garton Ash comments on US leadership after the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan