US Defense Secretary to Visit Gulf Countries Next Week

The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced on Friday that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait next week to express gratitude to allies and forces that assisted in the massive airlift organized by the United States to evacuate tens of thousands from Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover of the country. Austin plans to depart on Sunday and meet with officials in the region, as well as US military personnel and other government staff. Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby stated in a release, "During his trip, Secretary Austin will meet with partners in the region to thank them for their cooperation with the United States while we evacuated Americans, Afghans, and citizens from other countries from Afghanistan." After concluding its longest wars, the United States hurriedly established an airlift that failed to evacuate thousands of Afghans who worked with them, and it included a suicide bombing outside Kabul airport that killed 13 US soldiers and dozens of Afghans. This was one of the largest airlifts in history, during which over 120,000 Americans, Afghans, and individuals of other nationalities were evacuated. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Friday that he would travel to Qatar on Sunday to meet with officials from the Arab country and thank them for their assistance during the evacuation process.