Description: The Taliban – led government in Afghanistan has been officially recognized by Russia under the label, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Russia is the first country to officially recognize the Taliban as the official government in Afghanistan following the lifting of the terrorist designation on the organization in Apr. The countries would exchange ambassadors and enhance bilateral support in the upcoming period in several sectors such as anti – terrorism cooperation, energy and infrastructure development. Afghanistan has been cut off from the international banking system as the US has frozen billions of dollars and isolated the country’s economy. Following the US withdrawal in 2021, global actors have spectated the Taliban with cautious optimism ever since they toppled the international – led government and imposed rule governed by Islamic law.
Impact: Russia’s recognition of the Taliban is a strategic move aimed at expanding influence in the Middle East and devising long – term partnership for gaining access to key energy supply routes. Depending on the expediency in developing the strategic partnership, Russia’s adoption of Afghanistan into its orbit of influence would result in gaining considerable footprint in the region and potentially using the country as a launchpad for supporting Iran and countering strategic ambitions from regional actors such as India and Pakistan. Afghanistan’s development of cordial ties with countries adversarial to the Global West would be closely monitored by the US which still holds considerable influence over the country, having seized most of its banking and investment assets.