In August 2021, President Biden ended the long chapter of Western intervention in Afghanistan with his immediate withdrawal of troops from the Afghan territory. Following the subsequent seizure of Kabul by Taliban militants, the country’s unfolding political, security, and humanitarian crisis has captured the attention of the world. In Europe, the fallout of the ‘chaotic’ evacuation has sparked dialogue on the broader significance of President Biden’s unilateral decision. The concept of strategic autonomy, a term already ubiquitous in EU security discourse, comes to the fore with a renewed sense of urgency. Calls by scholars, experts, and both EU and national-level officials for a more serious commitment to Europe’s empowerment as an independent actor are reverberating through the media. This article examines some of the dialogue emerging from Europe and discusses the potential for turning rhetoric into action.
Voices around Europe have expressed their disillusionment with the ill-executed retreat, which comes after European leaders pushed unsuccessfully for Washington to extend its deadline for troop withdrawal. Despite Biden’s frequent reassurance that “America is back” after four turbulent years in transatlantic relations, the evacuation has reignited tensions and cast renewed doubts on Biden’s commitment to defending shared European and American interests (Kirby, 2021). As remarked by a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, the predominant reaction in Europe has been frustration over Biden’s failure to adequately consult NATO Allies on the exit strategy and withdrawal timeline (Simonyi, 2021). The lack of say in joint matters and the feeling of dependence on the will of the U.S. to sustain operations intensify European concerns around what happens when American interests do not align with those on the other side of the Atlantic (Kirby, 2021). Others have argued that the feelings of anger over Biden’s decision might be a case of misdirected frustration, as European nations confront the reality that they are neither singularly nor collectively as powerful as they wish to be (Kirby, 2021).
Some analysts have described the withdrawal as the solidification of a shift in American foreign policy away from the “global policeman” role of the past (Puglierin, 2021). Biden himself seemed to confirm this assessment in a speech to the American public, stating that “this decision about Afghanistan is not just about Afghanistan, [but about] ending an era of major military operations to remake other countries” (Biden, 2021). A sense of intervention fatigue has indeed become entrenched in much of the West following the bitter experiences of two “forever wars” (Puglierin, 2021). Washington’s apparent move to disavow a military-first approach to global stability thus places more weight on European shoulders when it comes to stabilisation and crisis prevention operations in the EU neighbourhood and beyond (Knudsen, 2021; Puglierin, 2021).
With confidence in transatlantic security arrangements at a low point, many public figures have labelled the events a wake-up call for the EU to commit more earnestly to strategic autonomy. Charles Michel, President of the European Council, affirmed at the annual Bled Strategic Forum, “European influence will be our greatest challenge in the coming years — Afghanistan has offered a stark demonstration. […] We do not need another such geopolitical event to grasp that the EU must strive for greater decision-making autonomy and greater capacity for action in the world” (Michel, 2021). Also, at the Bled Strategic Forum, European Parliament President David Sassoli echoed these beliefs, advocating for a common European voice in world affairs and a revitalised commitment to the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), “without which [Europe] will remain dependent on the goodwill of other great powers” (Sassoli, 2021). Lastly, Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, highlighted in an interview the importance of creating a European ‘initial entry force’ to enable quick collective action in emergencies, such as the one in Kabul last month (Fubini, 2021). The initiative would grant the EU better leverage in protecting its interests when Americans opt not to be involved.
However, strengthening Europe’s independent capacities need does not imply a strategic decoupling from the U.S. in the realm of security and defence. As Borrell explained, the EU should rather take advantage of the situation to reconfigure transatlantic security relations, rebuilding them in a more balanced way (Fubini, 2021). He stated, “this is not a time for our disengagement. As Europeans, we have to use this crisis to learn to work more together and reinforce our strategic autonomy” (Fubini, 2021). Yet, despite the many rallying calls favouring Europe as a security actor, mustering the political will as a Union to act jointly in security matters continues to pose the traditional roadblocks. In the wake of the crisis, Sassoli and others have advocated for instituting qualified majority voting in the arena of CSDP, allowing for greater speed and efficiency in decision-making (Sassoli, 2021). Whether the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan constitutes a serious catalyst for change for the member states remains uncertain. Some are sceptical, believing that until Europe can begin thinking strategically, it will sustain its dependence on the U.S. well into the foreseeable future (Dempsey, 2021).
Written by Laura Walsch
Bibliography
Biden, Joseph. “Remarks by President Biden on the End of the War in Afghanistan”. Accessed 6 September, 2021. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/08/31/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-end-of-the-war-in-afghanistan/
Fubini, Federico. Interview with Josep Borrell. Borrell: Afghanistan was a catastrophe and Europe must take responsibility. Corriere della Sera. https://www.corriere.it/english/21_agosto_30/borrell-afghanistan-was-catastrophe-europe-must-share-responsibility-3c8a0f46-08f2-11ec-92ce-f1aac6dc2317.shtml.
Dempsey, Judy. “What Afghanistan Should Mean for Europe.” Carnegie Europe, 24 August, 2021. https://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/85189.
Kirby, Jen. “NATO allies are preparing for a future without America’s ‘forever wars’”. VOX. 31 August, 2021. https://www.vox.com/22639474/afghanistan-nato-europe-refugees-germany-uk.
Knudsen, Edward. “A Kinder, Gentler ‘America First?’: Taking Stock of Transatlantic Relations under Biden.” Jacques Delors Centre, 17 May 2021.
Michel, Charles. “Speech by President Charles Michel at the opening session of the Bled Strategic Forum”. Accessed 6 September, 2021. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/09/01/speech-by-president-charles-michel-at-the-opening-session-of-the-bled-strategic-forum/.
Puglierin, Jana. “The fall of the Afghan government and what it means for Europe”. European Council on Foreign Relations. https://ecfr.eu/publication/the-fall-of-the-afghan-government-and-what-it-means-for-europe/.
Sassoli, David. “Sassoli: Very disappointed with yesterday’s Home Affairs Council conclusions”. Accessed 6 September, 2021. https://the-president.europarl.europa.eu/en/newsroom/disappointed-by-the-conclusions-of-the-last-jha-council.
Simonyi, András. “Experts react: The US withdrawal from Afghanistan is complete. What’s next?”. Atlantic Council. 30 August, 2021. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/experts-react-the-us-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-is-complete-whats-next/.
