The Intelligence from The Economist Tali-banned: Trump calls off Afghan peace talks
Sep 9, 2019
Shashank Joshi, The Economist's defence editor, dissects President Trump's sudden cancellation of the U.S.-Taliban peace talks, raising questions about Afghanistan's peace prospects. Leo Marani, the roving Britain correspondent, discusses the surge in Welsh nationalism and the potential for independence, mirroring Scotland's efforts. They also touch on U.S.-China trade relations, exploring the absurdity of how furniture aesthetics might influence high-stakes diplomacy, adding a quirky twist to serious negotiations.
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Cancelled Peace Talks
- President Trump cancelled Afghan peace talks with the Taliban, citing a recent bombing.
- The cancellation, days before 9/11, raises questions about the future of Afghanistan and the impact on the 2020 US elections.
Unexpected Meeting
- Inviting the Taliban to Camp David, days before the 9/11 anniversary, was shocking.
- It would have been the first time the Taliban met with both the US and Afghan presidents.
Culmination of Talks
- The cancelled summit would have been the culmination of nine rounds of negotiations between the US and the Taliban.
- The Afghan government was largely excluded, only briefly shown the agreement.