Afghanistan–United States relations

President Joe Biden said on July 8 the U.S. military operation in Afghanistan will end on Aug. 31, delivering an impassioned argument for exiting the nearly 20-year war without sacrificing more American lives even as he bluntly acknowledged there will be no "mission accomplished" moment to celebrate.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has said that he will speak over the phone with his U.S. counterpart Lloyd Austin on July 7 in line with the ongoing talks on the operation and security of the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan.

Turkey will hold a high-level meeting under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to discuss ongoing talks with the United States over the former's bid to operate Kabul International Airport after the completion of NATO's withdrawal from Afghanistan, the defense minister has said.

After nearly 20 years, the U.S. military left Bagram Airfield, the epicenter of its war to oust the Taliban and hunt down the al-Qaida perpetrators of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America, two U.S. officials said on July 2. 

Turkish and U.S. delegations discussed areas of cooperation to run Afghanistan's Kabul airport, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said on June 25. 

Turkey will not send additional troops to Afghanistan as part of a plan to run and secure Kabul's airport following the U.S. and NATO pull-out from the country, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar was cited as saying on June 23. 

İYİ (Good) Party leader Meral Akşener on June 23 objected to a proposal by the Turkish government for the deployment of troops to secure the Kabul airport of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of NATO forces in the war-torn country.

The Afghan foreign minister on June 20 welcomed Turkey's willingness to secure Kabul airport after the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan, saying it is necessary for the presence of the diplomatic community in the country.

The United States on June 17 hailed a commitment by Turkey to secure Kabul's airport, addressing one key area of concern amid fears the government will collapse once U.S. forces leave.

The agreement is likely to mark a new warming of U.S. relations with Turkey, a NATO ally whose relations had been fraught with President Joe Biden's five-month-old administration.

Turkey can keep its troops in Afghanistan only if political, financial and logistic support is provided by the allies, as NATO prepares to withdraw from the country, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, daily Hürriyet reported on June 7.