Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – In a significant policy shift, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. military will no longer engage in nation-building operations abroad. Delivering a politically charged commencement address at West Point on May 24, Trump criticized previous administrations for deploying American forces in what he termed “nation-building crusades” in countries that lacked interest in U.S. involvement.
“For at least two decades, political leaders from both parties have dragged our military into missions it was never meant to be,” Trump stated. He emphasized that such strategies have concluded, asserting that the military’s primary role is to “dominate any foe and annihilate any threat to America.”
The President also highlighted his administration’s efforts to dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the military, claiming these programs diverted focus from core defense objectives.
In a related development, U.S. Congressman Mike Bost, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, criticized the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. He described Bagram Air Base as a strategic asset for countering adversaries like China and Russia, suggesting that retaining the base could have provided significant geopolitical advantages.
While the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan has faced scrutiny, the current U.S. stance on engagement with Afghanistan’s interim government remains under review. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently indicated that future policies are being evaluated.
Analysts interpret these developments as a move towards a more restrained U.S. military posture, focusing on national defense over international nation-building efforts.
