In reaction to the US decision to withdraw Afghanistan’s designation as a major non-NATO ally, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that the Taliban’s administration is “undismayed.”
US President Joe Biden officially announced his intention to withdraw Afghanistan’s designation as a major non-NATO ally in a letter to Congress on July 6.
President Biden’s decision to rescind Afghanistan’s designation in NATO was met with a tweetstorm in which Zabihullah Mujahid reacted that Afghanistan never “benefited” from the designation in the first place.
In 2012, the United States recognized Afghanistan as a major non-NATO ally, laying the foundation for the two countries to maintain their defense and trade ties.
The Taliban official also reiterated that the Taliban’s government seeks “dependable” and “positive” diplomatic and trade relations with the countries.
Contrary to the US’s NATO allies, who are bound together by a collective defense pact, a non-NATO ally is not protected by a mutual defense guarantee.
With the exclusion of Afghanistan, the United States will have a total of 18 major non-NATO allies, including Australia, Argentina, the Philippines, South Korea, New Zealand, Pakistan, Columbia, Qatar, Thailand, Tunisia, Morocco, Bahrain, Brazil, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Japan, and Kuwait.
