Pete Hegseth, President-elect’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, told senators on Tuesday that the U.S.’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 directly contributed to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2024.
“The world recognized weakness for what it was,” Mr. Hegseth said during his remarks to the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Senator Jim Banks, a Republican, echoed this criticism, describing the withdrawal as “one of the biggest embarrassments in American history.” He criticized the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III for prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives over military readiness. Banks also referenced Mr. Austin’s 2021 testimony, in which the defense secretary stated he had “no regrets” about the withdrawal.
Responding to these remarks, Mr. Hegseth called the operation “shameful,” dismissing the administration’s characterization of it as a successful airlift. “What the rest of us saw was an utter failure,” he said, citing the deaths of 13 American service members at Abbey Gate during the chaotic evacuation, the abandonment of Afghan allies, and damage to the U.S.’s global reputation.
Mr. Hegseth argued that the perceived mishandling of the Afghanistan withdrawal emboldened adversaries. “What was unleashed because of what happened in Afghanistan?” he asked. “The October 7 attacks in Israel, an invasion into Ukraine. The world recognized weakness for what it was. And who bore the brunt of it? The troops on the front lines.”
He also criticized the reliance on the Taliban for external security during the evacuation, calling it an “impossible situation” for American troops. Mr. Hegseth cited the case of Marine Corps Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, who faced disciplinary action after publicly calling for accountability over the withdrawal.
“No one else involved has ever taken accountability for it,” Mr. Hegseth said. “When that perception becomes the reality of America’s military commitment, the world responds accordingly.”
