President Joe Biden continues to face criticism for his failure to secure the nation’s southern border, which has been flooded with migrants in the months since the president reversed or repealed many of the policies implemented by his predecessor.
While many Americans believe Biden has failed to protect and defend his own nation’s porous borders, he has reportedly been more proactive in helping other nations secure theirs, however.
According to Reuters, the White House has offered assistance to Tajikistan as that nation attempts to secure its border with Afghanistan.
“Strong security cooperation”
In an announcement on Wednesday, the Biden administration confirmed it would provide funding and other assistance needed for the construction of a new border security facility in a key location where the borders of Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan meet.
The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, issued a statement announcing its support of the new “Border Guard Detachment” near Ayvoy, which is meant to replace an outdated facility nearby while allowing border security forces to respond “more quickly to border areas in response to threats.”
Construction on the facility is expected to begin early next year and is expected to provide housing for Border Guard troops and their families.
“The United States and Tajikistan enjoy strong security cooperation, and this border detachment project is just another example of our shared commitment to the security and sovereignty of Tajikistan and Central Asia,” said Ambassador John Mark Pommersheim.
“Security-sector assistance”
The embassy statement went on to note that the U.S. has provided more than $300 million to Tajikistan in “security-sector assistance” since 2002. That aid has been used to renovate or replace a dozen border outposts, nine checkpoints, and three training facilities for border guards.
Supporters of that continued funding say it is justified in response to the security threat posed by a flood of Afghan refugees fleeing the Taliban and other terrorist threats. Tajikistan is expected to be a popular destination given its proximity to Afghanistan. Furthermore, the Panjshir Valley in Afghanistan is home to a large Tajik population that has resisted Taliban takeover.
Although Tajikistan reportedly forbids its citizens from participating in foreign conflicts, thousands of Tajiks are believed to have headed to that area to bolster the anti-Taliban resistance.
Tajikistan remains influenced by Russia and is a member of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization. As such, the two nations have conducted joint military maneuvers over Tajikistan near its border with Afghanistan and Russia has reportedly vowed to aid in the defense of the border against any hostile incursions.
In other words, Biden has neglected to defend his own nation’s border and withdrew from the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan but is willing to defend Tajikistan’s border in a move that would support Russia’s interests in the region.
The post Biden admin approves funding for new border security facility in Tajikistan first appeared on Conservative Institute.
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