G7 Leaders Meet Virtually as Evacuations Continue in Afghanistan

Leaders from the top foreign allies of the U.S. are planning to press President Biden to extend the deadline for U.S. Troops to withdraw from Afghanistan during a meeting today. The virtual gathering of the group of 7 will be the first international forum for Biden to speak collectively with top European allies about the crisis in Afghanistan. American and western officials have been discussing the expected pressure from other leaders on Biden to maintain troops in Kabul past the August 31st deadline he gave previously. The President has not yet committed to the move which has several allies worried as they fear there won’t be enough time to get their citizens and Afghan allies who assisted in the war out of the country.

The U.S. military is advising the White House to make the decision today in order to have enough time to withdraw the 5,800 existing troops currently on the ground in the country as well as their equipment and weapons. If Biden agrees, the military expects a ‘few more days’ of trying to evacuate as many people as possible before the draw-down begins. The U.S. evacuated 12,700 people from Kabul between yesterday and this morning and 8,900 people were evacuated by 57 coalition flights making the overall total 58,700 people since August 14th. Around 6,500 people are currently waiting for evacuation.