EU Appoints Gilles Bertrand as New Special Envoy for Afghanistan
The European Union Delegation in Afghanistan announced on Friday, September 27, the appointment of Gilles Bertrand as the EU’s new Special Envoy for Afghanistan.
According to the EU statement, Bertrand takes on the role at one of the country’s most “sensitive political moments,” tasked with strengthening the EU’s engagement with the Afghan people and the international community.
Bertrand, a French national and seasoned diplomat, previously served as part of the EU Delegation in Afghanistan. In recent years, he held the position of EU Ambassador to Colombia. With nearly two decades of experience in various EU structures, particularly in foreign policy, he now replaces Tomas Niklasson, who had taken up the role after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
As the Taliban face mounting international isolation, Bertrand’s appointment could provide an opportunity to revive measured, people-centered engagement with Afghanistan. Still, a key question remains: can such diplomatic appointments effectively address the Taliban’s imposed isolation and the worsening humanitarian crisis, while the voices of millions of Afghans—especially women and minorities—remain sidelined?
