According to a report by Bloomberg, which cited a European diplomat, several European Union nations are assessing the possibility of reopening their diplomatic missions in Kabul. Currently, only the collective EU representation is present in Afghanistan, while individual member states closed their embassies following the Taliban's takeover in 2021.
Italy appears to be at the forefront of this potential diplomatic re-engagement. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani revealed that the country's ambassador to Qatar recently visited Kabul, indicating Italy's interest in reopening its embassy. Tajani acknowledged the complexity of the situation, stating, "We are working on it, it's very difficult to solve the problem, and it takes time."
Spain is also considering a similar approach. While the Spanish ambassador to Afghanistan is currently based in Qatar due to security concerns, Madrid intends to return its ambassador to Kabul "as soon as possible." Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation José Manuel Albares explained, "As soon as the minimum security conditions are met, we will send back our ambassador. We were ready a month ago, but unfortunately, ISIS terrorists killed three Spaniards in Afghanistan at that time."
However, not all EU countries share the same enthusiasm for immediate diplomatic re-engagement. Officials from France, the UK, and Germany told Bloomberg that they have no immediate plans to reopen their representations in Kabul.
Bloomberg