Political Talks 11/29

International Diplomacy: Diplomacy is defined in the oxford dictionary as the profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations, typically by a country’s representatives abroad. International Diplomacy takes many shapes around the world, depending on the country practicing and receiving such communications. All internationally recognized countries have a specific foreign ministry which oversees the diplomatic activities and exchanges that must happen in order to function in an international world. In the United States, this ministry is called the State Department, and is overseen by the Secretary of State. However, the Secretary himself reports to the President, therefore giving the President of the United States unusually direct power over the international relations of the United States.

Resumption of Taliban negotiations: President Trump made a surprise trip to Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan this week, during which he announced the resumption of armistice talks with the Taliban, who is currently fighting both the Afghan government and NATO armed forces in an armed insurrection. An armistice would allow for the United States to disengage from the conflict while ensuring the stability of the war-torn country, as the Afghan conflict is now the longest military operation in US history. Talks were frozen several months ago when Taliban officials would not agree to President Trump’s demand that any signing ceremony happen at Camp David in the United States, and a subsequent suicide bombing in Afghanistan killed a US soldier. Engagement with the Taliban has been a hallmark achievement for the Trump administration, as previous administrations sought to avoid negotiations in order to maintain the legitimacy of the current Afghan government. The Taliban does not recognize this government and claims instead that it is a puppet organization of the United States. A successful armistice would allow President Trump to keep one of his most important campaign promises, and would continue with the current trend of disengaging the United States from many areas it had previously considered highly important to national security.
​