Biden rescinds Afghanistan’s designation as a non-NATO strategic ally

U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday rescinded the designation of Afghanistan as a non-NATO strategic partner.

“I hereby terminate the designation of Afghanistan as a Major Non-NATO Ally of the United States for purposes of the Arms Export Control Act,” the U.S. president said in a statement released by the White House.

Afghanistan has thus ceased to be part of the group of non-Atlantic Alliance countries that the United States considers important allies, such as Australia, South Korea, Israel, Japan or Colombia. It joined in 2012 following the appointment of former President Barack Obama.

This designation does not include a bilateral defense pact with the United States, although it provides a variety of military and financial advantages otherwise unavailable to non-NATO countries.

After the Biden Administration announced the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan after more than 20 years of military operation, the Taliban seized Kabul last August 15, 2021 without any resistance. The current Afghan government has not yet been officially recognized by any state.