Blinken and Austin tour Middle East after Afghanistan pullout. REUTERS
NYPost: Blinken and Austin tour Middle East after Afghanistan pullout
Top US officials will visit the Middle East next week to meet with US troops and diplomats.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken will leave this weekend for Germany and Qatar and is also scheduled to meet Afghans evacuated from the country before the Taliban takeover, the Associated Press reported.
Blinken’s jaunt to Qatar will coincide with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s tour with regional allies.
The State Department stressed that Blinken had no plans to meet with representatives of the Taliban, who long operated out of the country before overthrowing the Afghan government last month.
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Update #1: Blinken and Austin to visit Gulf to address postwar stresses (AP)
Update #2: Blinken, Austin to meet allies on Afghan crisis trip (France 24)
WNU Editor: We all know America's defeat in Afghanistan has geopolitical implications. The U.S. Secretary of State and Defense are going to get an earful from America's allies on what that means.