Which countries are closing their embassies in Afghanistan?
As the Taliban advance rapidly in Afghanistan, several Western countries have mobilized to evacuate their staff and close their embassies for fear of a possible fall of Kabul.
According to the Washington Post on Sunday, the administration of US President Joe Biden has announced that it will send 5,000 troops to Kabul to protect the city and its international airport.
Biden has also stated that he is committed to withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan by August 31 to end the 20-year war in Afghanistan.
Countries such as the United States, Germany and Britain, which have had relatively large numbers of troops in Afghanistan since the start of the war in 2001, are evacuating staff from the Green Protected Area in Kabul, where embassies are located. A number of other countries have downplayed their diplomats, fired local forces, or shut down their embassies altogether.
America
The United States has sent troops to Afghanistan to assist in the evacuation operation and plans to keep a small number of US diplomats in Kabul, although this may change depending on security assessments.
Germany
German Foreign Minister Haiku Moss said on Friday that the country was reducing its embassy staff to “minimum”.
England
Britain has announced that it will significantly reduce its staff in Afghanistan. The British Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday that it was sending about 600 troops to Afghanistan to help evacuate diplomats.
Netherlands
Due to the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, the Netherlands is seeking to reduce its presence in the country and consider the complete evacuation of its embassy in Kabul. Dutch Foreign Minister Segrid Kaig said on Friday that the country intends to keep the embassy as open as possible.
Switzerland
Switzerland has no embassy in Kabul. Swiss Foreign Minister Livia Lou said on Friday that all staff at the Foreign Ministry would be evacuated in Kabul.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic announced on Saturday that it would expel two diplomats from Kabul.
Denmark
Danish Foreign Minister Jepp Kofood announced on Friday that Denmark would temporarily close its embassy in Kabul. The evacuation of the country’s diplomats from Kabul is with Norway. The embassies of the two countries are in a common complex.
Norway
Norway has also decided to close its embassy and expel its diplomats from Afghanistan.
Australia
Australia closed its embassy in Kabul in May because Taliban attacks were advancing and other countries were reducing their diplomatic presence.
Australia is one of the countries with the largest number of troops in Afghanistan.
Spain
Spain announced on Friday that it was evacuating Afghan diplomats and aid workers from Kabul because of “Taliban advance on Kabul.”
