US President Joe Biden has ended Afghanistan’s designation as a major non-NATO ally, more than a year after the Taliban seized power in Kabul.
In 2012, the United States designated Afghanistan as a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA), paving the way for the two countries to maintain a defense and economic relationship.
The designation provided several facilities and concessions to Afghanistan in terms of defense and security related assistance and equipment.
“Pursuant to the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, including Section 517 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, … I hereby terminate the designation of Afghanistan as a major non-NATO ally. United States for the purposes of the Act and the Arms Export Control Act,” Biden said in a presidential memo to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The change in Afghanistan’s status follows Biden’s withdrawal of US troops from the country last year, ending nearly 20 years of war.
Afghanistan quickly fell back into the hands of the Taliban, who repeatedly assured the international community that they would protect the rights of women and girls, while taking away many of their freedoms and protections.
MNNA status was first created in 1987. After Afghanistan’s status is lifted, the US will have 18 major non-NATO allies, according to the State Department.
They are Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Thailand and Tunisia.