Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Saturday, Apr 27, 2024

‘President had set his mind on it’: UK Foreign Affairs Committee chairman says US made ‘mistake’ with Afghanistan withdrawal

‘President had set his mind on it’: UK Foreign Affairs Committee chairman says US made ‘mistake’ with Afghanistan withdrawal

Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the UK's Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, calling it a “mistake” and blaming President Joe Biden's increased focus on other regions.
After being asked by Sky News on Sunday why the US “made these catastrophic decisions” in withdrawing from Afghanistan, Tugendhat insinuated that President Joe Biden wanted to focus the country solely on China instead.

“I think the new US administration probably arrived in the White House and realized that the various challenges they had were more severe than they imagined,” he said, noting such challenges as the “technological gap that's shrinking between them and China” and “the different ways in which other powers – China and Russia, but mostly China – are challenging US interests and US allied interests.”

Realizing how “severe” the challenges they faced were, Biden and the US government “decided to focus on it,” which culminated in a speedy withdrawal from Afghanistan, Tugendhat added.

Though Tugendhat insisted that he “can understand the desire to focus on your prime objective,” since “maintenance of the aim is one of the principles of war,” he argued that in this case “the US government made a mistake.”

Tugendhat – who served in the war in Afghanistan as a member of the Territorial Army – blamed President Biden for the withdrawal, concluding, “I think it was very much down to the president” and it was “quite clear that the president had set his mind on doing it and that was that.”

Following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August, then-Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab claimed it was a wake up call that the UK's military cannot act on its own and needs to look at its “own capabilities.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there was no interest among the UK's allies for “a continued military presence or for a military solution imposed by NATO in Afghanistan,” and that he does not think “deploying tens of thousands of British troops to fight the Taliban is an option.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Reports in Gaza: 5 dead from the impact of aid packages dropped by the USA
Apple warns against drying iPhones with rice
China Criticizes US for Vetoing UN Ceasefire Resolution in Gaza
In a recent High Court hearing, the U.S. argued that Julian Assange endangered lives by releasing classified information.
The U.S. vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, instead proposing its own six-week ceasefire plan contingent upon the release of all hostages held by Hamas
Prince William Urges End to Gaza Conflict
Saudi Arabia ranks first in UN index for e-government services in MENA
Israel has gone ‘beyond self-defence’ in Gaza, says Labour’s Streeting
EU Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza Conflict
Israel Records 20% Drop In GDP, War In Gaza Is The Reason
Saudi Arabia's FDI Inflows Grow with New International Standards
Venture Capitals Power Up Across MENA Region
Saudi Arabia Introduces Terms for 30-Year Income Tax Exemption for Multinational Companies
Saudi FM: Establishing Palestinian state is only pathway for Mideast stability
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died at the Arctic prison colony
Elon Musk's Starlink Gets License For Israel, Parts Of Gaza
Influencers Exploit X Platform for Profit Amidst Israel-Gaza Conflict
PM Modi Announces Opening Of New CBSE Office In Dubai
International Criminal Court's Chief "Deeply Concerned" By Rafah Bombing
January Funding for MENA Startups Totals $86.5 Million
Saudi Arabia accelerates digital economy growth through Nvidia partnership
Indian female military officers commend Saudi Arabia's progress and women's empowerment
Israel unveils tunnels underneath Gaza City headquarters of UN agency for Palestinian refugees
Israel deploys new military AI in Gaza war
Egypt threatens to suspend key peace treaty if Israel pushes into Gaza border town, officials say
Israel Utilizes AI Military Technology in Gaza Conflict
Saudi Arabia Warns Of A "Humanitarian Catastrophe" If Israel Moves On Rafah
China Warns Iran to Halt Houthi Attacks or Damage Trade Ties
US University To Shut Qatar Campus Due To "Heightened Mideast Instability"
Iran-backed hackers interrupt UAE TV streaming services with deepfake news
Facebook and Instagram Ban Iran's Supreme Leader
Finnish Airline, Finnair, is voluntarily weighing passengers to better estimate flight cargo weight
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken: The Israelis underwent dehumanization on 7.10, this does not give them the right to do this to others.
Defense Technology Showcase Held in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports rise 2.5% to $6bn in November 2023: GASTAT
UK Bans Misleading "Zero Emissions" Claims for Electric Cars
Gaza's Teen Inventor Sparks Light in Displacement
Netanyahu Rejects Ceasefire Proposal, Insists On Total Victory Over Hamas
Guterres appoints independent UNRWA review panel
Private Sector Employment Hits Record High with Over 11 Million Employees in January
Rolls-Royce Executive Encourages Saudi Women to Tap into Their Inner 'Superhero' for Success in Defense Industry
Saudi Arabia launches National Academy of Vehicles and Cars
Saudi Tourism Minister Reveals Plan for 250,000 New Hotel Rooms by 2030
SAR to more than double eastern network passenger capacity with new trains deal
Saudi Arabia Enhances National Defense with New Partnerships
Saudi Aramco Maintains Arab Light Crude Pricing to Asia for March
NEOM Establishes New York Office to Support Investors
Saudi Wealth Fund Draws in Over $25 Billion Worth of Investments in Three Years, Al-Rumayyan Reveals
ZATCA Cautions Against Scammer Schemes
INTRA Defense Technologies inaugurates drone factory in Riyadh
×