Souder proposes EU mission: Macron calls for UN security zone in Kabul

Sunday 29 August 2021

Souder proposes mission to the European Union
Macron calls for UN security zone in Kabul

The US military is in the final stages of evacuation flights from the country. However, France and Great Britain want to establish a new security zone. According to the Bavarian prime minister, the European Union could have done this with the help of the Bundeswehr.

France and Great Britain want to work on Monday at the United Nations to build a “safe zone” in the Afghan capital, Kabul, to be able to continue humanitarian work. French President Emmanuel Macron announced this in an interview with the Sunday newspaper “Journal du Dimanche”. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council – France, Great Britain, the US, Russia and China – will discuss the situation in Afghanistan on Monday.

According to Macron, London and Paris are working on a draft resolution aimed at defining a protected area “under the control of the United Nations in Kabul”. This, Macron said, could create a UN framework for emergencies, clarify responsibilities and allow the international community to keep pressure on the Taliban.

An international evacuation mission launched after the Taliban came to power in mid-August to evacuate foreigners and vulnerable Afghans is coming to an end. France ended its evacuation flights on Friday and Britain on Saturday. According to the US, more than 112,000 people left the country via US-coordinated airlift.

CSU President Marcus Söder meanwhile implemented the idea of ​​an EU-protected area at Kabul airport. He called for the Bundeswehr to be deployed as part of the European Union’s mission to protect the airport in Kabul in order to resume evacuation flights. “Afghanistan may aim to establish its own European security zone at the airport in Kabul in the near future,” said Soder of “Build am Sonntag”. He demanded immediate dialogue on this. Europe must eventually coordinate militarily.

A European Security Council and a powerful military unit are needed to protect German and European citizens in emergencies. “Europe stands on the edge of world events and is not in a position to guarantee security even for its citizens in Kabul. Without Americans we are helpless. In Europe we are talking about more freedom, but we are a Can’t even secure the airport.” Military operations need a new strategy.