What Will Be President Trump's Policy And Strategy In Afghanistan?

Martin Fleischer and Charles Elkins, The Diplomat: Trump and Afghanistan: The Unwelcome Obligation

When Donald Trump takes office on January 20, he will inherit an immensely problematic country and region.

President-elect Donald Trump has so far been ambiguous regarding how he plans to deal with the volatile security situation in Afghanistan and the sensitive geopolitical balance in the region.

In an interview in 2012, Trump argued the United States should withdraw its troops from Afghanistan and use aid dollars to rebuild the U.S. instead. Recently, mounting costs have led analysts to question whether Trump would withdraw the remaining 8,400 American security forces. Nevertheless, Trump called Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on December 2, reportedly reaffirming the U.S. commitment to Afghanistan. This apparent shift in Trump’s position, along with the recent deployment by the current administration of 300 U.S. Marines to Afghanistan’s Helmand province, is a positive indication that Washington is set to sustain its commitment to see through the stabilization of the country.

There remains a great deal at stake and when Trump takes office on January 20, he will inherit an immensely problematic country and region, which he will have little choice but deal with effectively if he is to stay true to his word and continue the war on terror.

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More News And Commentary On What Will Be President Trump's Policy And Strategy In Afghanistan

US: Commitment to Afghanistan Will Only Deepen After January 20 -- VOA
Trump Admin Inherits Continued Insecurity, Corruption in Afghanistan -- Washington Free Beacon
It’s time for Trump to explain what will happen in Afghanistan -- The Hill
Trump’s nation-building pledges to be tested in Afghanistan -- The Hill
An Afghan agenda for Trump -- The Hindu
Trump Inherits ‘The Good War’ -- Emran Feroz, Defense One/The Atlantic