Issue Brief: The Afghan Defense Sector Amidst a U.S. Drawdown

Just one week After President Trump asserted that all U.S. troops in Afghanistan would be home by Christmas, National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien has confirmed that at least 2,500 American soldiers will remain in Afghanistan into 2021. The contradictory information reflects divisions within the U.S. government regarding the timeframe and conditions of a U.S withdrawal from Afghanistan, and takes place amidst faltering peace talks between the Afghan central government and the Taliban.