Harvard researcher and professor at Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Vitelio Brustolin, said that the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, did not fulfill his campaign promise to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan during his first term as president .
The statement was made during participation in the program, with . According to Brustolin, Trump chose to listen to his advisors, including then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and maintained the American military presence in the Asian country. The task of withdrawal ended up being carried out by his successor, Joe Biden.
Brustolin, who is also a specialist in war analysis, highlighted that the departure of American troops from Afghanistan, carried out by the Biden administration, was widely criticized by the international community. This episode marked the end of two decades of US military presence in the country.
When Trump was first elected, he was elected promising to withdraw the United States from Afghanistan. He didn’t withdraw. He listened to Mike Pompeo, he listened to his secretaries at the time, and he didn’t withdraw despite always raising the possibility. He left that to Biden, who, in turn, made a disastrous withdrawal that was criticized by everyone.
Vitellius Brustolin
In the campaign for this second term, which begins in January 2025, Trump also promised to end the conflicts occurring around the world and guaranteed a “strong Army”. The Republican also defended a foreign policy based on “America first”.
Brustolin mentioned a recent article by Mike Pompeo in the magazine Foreign Affairsin which the former Secretary of State suggests that, instead of withdrawing support for Ukraine, the United States could provide the country with $500 billion in assistance. This proposal highlights the continued influence of American economic and military power on international policies.
Impact on US-Ukraine relations
The researcher noted a change in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s tone after Trump’s election. Zelensky expressed more optimism, although he stressed that Ukraine would not agree to an end to the war in 24 hours, as suggested by Trump.
After talks with the former American president, Zelensky expressed confidence in a plan that apparently involves the creation of a 1,200-kilometer buffer zone on the border between Ukraine and Russia. “This proposal could represent a new approach to the ongoing conflict in the region.”
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