US President Joe Biden said he stands “squarely behind” his decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan in remarks prompted by the rapid takeover of the country by Taliban forces in recent days.

Speaking to reporters assembled in the East Room at the White House, Biden set out the strategic case for US withdrawal, while laying the blame for the Taliban’s victory squarely with the Afghan National Defence Forces.

“We gave them every chance to determine their own future,” Biden said. “What we could not provide them was the will to fight for their future.”

As Foreign Policy’s Michael Hirsh writes in a critique of the conventional wisdom emerging from the Taliban turnaround, Biden’s attempt to head off domestic criticism may prove effective in part because the setback happened far enough in advance of US midterm elections for it to fade from the minds of voters.

In Kabul, US authorities in control of Hamid Karzai International Airport have resumed evacuation flights after a brief suspension caused after hundreds of Afghans stormed the tarmac. At least seven people died in the ensuing chaos, including two who were reportedly shot by US forces after firing weapons, and others who fell from a departing plane after grabbing on as the plane took off.

As the evacuations continue, the fate of thousands of Afghans who now find themselves at risk of Taliban retribution hangs in the balance. In his Monday speech, Biden said he would expand refugee access to include those Afghans who worked for US non-governmental organizations and US news agencies. Biden did not say how many Afghans would be affected by the expansion.

They join as many as 50,000 Afghans eligible for Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) who have yet to leave the country. On Monday, Defence Intelligence Director Garry Reid, the official responsible for coordinating the Pentagon evacuation effort, said on Monday that plans are in place to fly as many as 22,000 SIV applicants to two military bases within the United States.

As thousands attempt to leave for the United States, other countries are offering to take in Afghan refugees. Canada has said it would resettle 20,000 Afghan citizens, while the United Kingdom is to announce its plans to accept Afghan refugees in the coming days.

Europe’s divisions. France and Germany, where leaders face far-right challenges in upcoming elections—have taken different approaches, setting the tone for an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers today.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe must “must anticipate and protect ourselves against major irregular migratory flows” in the wake of Afghanistan’s collapse, adding that France was ready to “do its duty to protect those who are most at risk.”

Armin Laschet, who hopes to become Germany’s next chancellor, drew a distinction between his approach and his CDU party colleague Angela Merkel’s efforts to resettle one million Syrians in 2015. “We should not send the signal that Germany can take in everyone in need,” Laschet said on Sunday. “The focus must be on humanitarian aid on site, unlike in 2015.”

Good neighbours. If historical patterns are any indication, the bulk of any refugee exodus will fall on Afghanistan’s neighbours. Of the 2.7 million Afghan refugees registered by the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR, 1.4 million are in Pakistan, while 780,000 are in Iran.

Think tanks have the capacity to understand, explain, and shape global trends, but just how successful are they? FP Analytics, in partnership with Atlas Network, took a deep dive into local think tanks’ impact on policy in an increasingly polarized and rapidly changing world. Read the new report here.

US President Joe Biden said he stands “squarely behind” his decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan in remarks prompted by the rapid takeover of the country by Taliban forces in recent days.

Speaking to reporters assembled in the East Room at the White House, Biden set out the strategic case for US withdrawal, while laying the blame for the Taliban’s victory squarely with the Afghan National Defence Forces.

“We gave them every chance to determine their own future,” Biden said. “What we could not provide them was the will to fight for their future.”

As Foreign Policy’s Michael Hirsh writes in a critique of the conventional wisdom emerging from the Taliban turnaround, Biden’s attempt to head off domestic criticism may prove effective in part because the setback happened far enough in advance of US midterm elections for it to fade from the minds of voters.

In Kabul, US authorities in control of Hamid Karzai International Airport have resumed evacuation flights after a brief suspension caused after hundreds of Afghans stormed the tarmac. At least seven people died in the ensuing chaos, including two who were reportedly shot by US forces after firing weapons, and others who fell from a departing plane after grabbing on as the plane took off.

As the evacuations continue, the fate of thousands of Afghans who now find themselves at risk of Taliban retribution hangs in the balance. In his Monday speech, Biden said he would expand refugee access to include those Afghans who worked for US non-governmental organizations and US news agencies. Biden did not say how many Afghans would be affected by the expansion.

They join as many as 50,000 Afghans eligible for Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) who have yet to leave the country. On Monday, Defence Intelligence Director Garry Reid, the official responsible for coordinating the Pentagon evacuation effort, said on Monday that plans are in place to fly as many as 22,000 SIV applicants to two military bases within the United States.

As thousands attempt to leave for the United States, other countries are offering to take in Afghan refugees. Canada has said it would resettle 20,000 Afghan citizens, while the United Kingdom is to announce its plans to accept Afghan refugees in the coming days.

Europe’s divisions. France and Germany, where leaders face far-right challenges in upcoming elections—have taken different approaches, setting the tone for an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers today.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe must “must anticipate and protect ourselves against major irregular migratory flows” in the wake of Afghanistan’s collapse, adding that France was ready to “do its duty to protect those who are most at risk.”

Armin Laschet, who hopes to become Germany’s next chancellor, drew a distinction between his approach and his CDU party colleague Angela Merkel’s efforts to resettle one million Syrians in 2015. “We should not send the signal that Germany can take in everyone in need,” Laschet said on Sunday. “The focus must be on humanitarian aid on site, unlike in 2015.”

Good neighbours. If historical patterns are any indication, the bulk of any refugee exodus will fall on Afghanistan’s neighbours. Of the 2.7 million Afghan refugees registered by the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR, 1.4 million are in Pakistan, while 780,000 are in Iran.

Think tanks have the capacity to understand, explain, and shape global trends, but just how successful are they? FP Analytics, in partnership with Atlas Network, took a deep dive into local think tanks’ impact on policy in an increasingly polarized and rapidly changing world. Read the new report here.

Foreign Policy report