War & Foreign Policy Flashcards
Trump officials back away from 2020 Taliban peace deal after withdrawal chaos - Axios
Several former senior Trump officials are distancing themselves from the 2020 peace agreement with the Taliban, which has come under renewed scrutiny following the recent chaotic fall of Kabul. The deal, signed under the Trump administration, set the stage for the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, contingent on the Taliban’s commitment to peace negotiations and preventing terrorist groups from gaining ground. While President Biden extended the withdrawal deadline to August 31, he argued that honoring the agreement was necessary to avoid further conflict. Former officials like Nikki Haley, Christopher Miller, and Mark Esper have criticized the deal’s terms, with some claiming it lacked sufficient conditions and emboldened the Taliban. Meanwhile, Biden defended his decision, acknowledging that any withdrawal would have been fraught with challenges. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who met with Taliban officials, insisted the agreement was conditions-based and claimed the Trump administration would have responded if the Taliban failed to comply.
