How does the US withdrawal from Afghanistan affect the Grand Duchy?

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean Asselborn has now provided an official response to the parliamentary enquiry.

Asselborn informed the Chamber that Luxembourg has been in close contact with the United States, who are continuously monitoring the situation to prepare the withdrawal of their troops. Like all the Allied Forces, the Grand Duchy was informed about the decision ahead of time and gave its blessing for ending NATO's Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.

Asselborn's response further conveys that NATO troops have been called back from the region since the beginning of May. The Luxembourgish members of the mission are expected to be home by the end of the month.

MP Kertheiser also enquired about the national assessment of the mission and its respective success. Minister Asselborn replied that the goal of the effort was to make sure that Afghanistan would no longer host international terrorists like the ones responsible for the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

He noted that since 2001, no further attacks have been traced back to organisations in Afghanistan. Additionally, NATO has significantly helped increase the stability of local security, Minister Asselborn concluded. He finally underlined that he hopes their socio-political improvements of the last 20 years would not be lost after the end of the mission.

The Grand Duchy has contributed to the Afghanistan mission since 2001, an effort that cost the country around €51.9 million. The greatest part of that sum was awarded to the Afghan National Army Trust Fund. Luxembourg will continue to provide an annual €4 million in support until 2024.

Minister Asselborn finally explained that internal peace talks were currently being held in Doha, Qatar, and that the future of the region will still depend on the outcome of these negotiations.