G20 Summit "Consensus on Humanitarian Aid for Afghanistan... Recognition of Taliban Premature"

EU Executive Commission Pledges 1 Billion Euro Support
Chinese and Russian Leaders Absent from Meeting

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] At the G20 summit held to discuss the Afghanistan situation, the G20 leaders agreed on the need for humanitarian aid to Afghanistan but drew the line, stating that it is premature to officially recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government. China and Russia, known for their friendly relations with the Taliban regime, did not send their leaders to the meeting.

On the 12th (local time), the G20 summit was held virtually, hosted by Italy, the chair country of this year’s G20. The meeting focused on key issues related to Afghanistan, including the humanitarian crisis following the U.S. military withdrawal and the Taliban’s takeover, as well as preventing the resurgence of terrorism.

The leaders generally agreed on the need to promptly implement humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. During the virtual meeting, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, announced a support plan worth 1 billion euros (approximately 1.3821 trillion KRW) for the Afghan people and neighboring countries.

President von der Leyen emphasized, "We must do everything possible to prevent the humanitarian and socio-economic collapse of Afghanistan," stressing that the Afghan people should not bear the cost of the Taliban’s actions. U.S. President Joe Biden reaffirmed his commitment to continue diplomatic, humanitarian, and economic support for the Afghan people alongside the international community, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel proposed establishing a 'working group' under the G20 framework to address refugee issues.

However, most leaders attending the meeting indicated that it is not yet time to recognize the Taliban regime. Mario Draghi, Prime Minister of Italy and chair of the meeting, stated at a press conference after the summit, "The leaders were not yet ready to recognize the Taliban," adding, "We need actions, not words, to judge what kind of regime the Taliban is."

Prime Minister Draghi also added, "There was a consensus among the leaders on the principle that Afghanistan must not become a safe haven for terrorists, in light of concerns about the resurgence of terrorism in Afghanistan."

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, both considered friendly to the Taliban regime, did not attend the meeting. Russia was represented by Igor Morgulov, Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific Affairs, and China was represented by Wang Yi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister, who attended the meeting on behalf of their respective leaders.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.