Germany must continue to get involved in the world, but a catastrophe like the one in Afghanistan must by no means repeat itself. So why don’t we finally rely on a local government that takes responsibility?
Our engagement in Afghanistan followed the textbooks of diplomacy: We took a comprehensive approach to our crisis management because we knew that we would not be successful with military means alone. We have spent billions of euros on humanitarian aid and development aid. We supported the administration, the police, the military and civil society. We have encouraged investment and sent delegations of entrepreneurs to Afghanistan to help the economy get back on its feet. And yet within a few weeks the whole thing collapsed like a house of cards.