Trump stated that US allies in Afghanistan sat out in the rear. They are outraged and list their losses
In an interview with Fox News, Trump stated that during the war in Afghanistan, NATO forces, apart from Americans, allegedly tried to stay away from the front line. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the statements about the behaviour of British servicemen in Afghanistan "insulting and, frankly, outrageous," writes the BBC Russian Service.
British army soldiers in Afghanistan, February 21, 2010. Photo: AFP via Getty Images
In his interview, Trump stated that America "didn't need" its NATO partners "at all," despite the fact that the US has historically been the only member state of the alliance to invoke Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty on collective defence ("one for all and all for one") after the attacks of September 11, 2001.
"We never needed them. We never asked them for anything," the US president said. "They will say they sent some troops to Afghanistan, and that's true, but they stayed in the rear, a little away from the front line."
His words drew condemnation from British politicians across all major parties.
"First of all, I want to commemorate the 457 servicemen of our Armed Forces who died in Afghanistan," Starmer said in a video address from Downing Street.
"Many were wounded, some so severely that their lives were changed forever, so I find President Trump's words insulting and, frankly, outrageous, and I'm not surprised they have caused such pain to the families of the fallen and wounded," the Prime Minister continued.
Asked if he would demand an apology from the US leader, Starmer replied:
"If I had made such a mistake in a statement or said those words, I would certainly apologise."
British Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan, also issued a statement in response to Trump's words.
"I served there. There I made lifelong friends – and there I lost comrades," Prince Harry said. "Thousands of lives were changed forever. Mothers and fathers buried their sons and daughters. Children were left without parents. Families are still paying for that loss."
"These sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect, while we all remain united and committed to defending diplomacy and peace," he added.
UK Defence Minister John Healey wrote on social media platform X that the fallen British servicemen were "heroes who gave their lives in service of our nation."
Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch called Trump's statement a disgrace. According to her, "there should be no such ill-thought-out comments that undermine the strong bond" between NATO allies.
"Trump dodged military service five times," wrote British Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey on X, referring to his avoidance of conscription during the Vietnam War. "How dare he question their sacrifice."
Even Nigel Farage, leader of the right-wing populist Reform UK party and a long-time supporter of Trump, criticised the American leader.
"Donald Trump's comments are simply wrong," he wrote on X. "For 20 years, our Armed Forces fought bravely alongside the US in Afghanistan... These men and women deserve our endless respect."
Trump's statements have worsened already strained relations with European allies.
Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel also condemned Trump's words about Afghanistan, calling them untrue and disrespectful.
Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that Poland's sacrifices in the war in Afghanistan "will never be forgotten and should not be minimised."
"Poland has always been, is, and will be a responsible and reliable ally, which, in a moment of security threat, stands in its defence," he wrote on X. "The tragic moments when our soldiers died showed that we are ready to pay the highest price for the defence of international security and the security of Poland."
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski emphasised that Polish soldiers served on the front line in Afghanistan, adding that "no one has the right to ridicule the service of our soldiers."
Former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO James Stavridis stated that hundreds of allied soldiers died under his command "on the front line in Afghanistan" between 2009 and 2013.
Danish Member of Parliament from the opposition Conservative Party Rasmus Jarlov called Trump's statements ignorant.
The US entered Afghanistan in October 2001 to overthrow the Taliban, which harboured Osama bin Laden and other leaders of the Al-Qaeda organisation linked to the September 11 attacks. NATO allies supported the American campaign by sending soldiers and military equipment.
By 2021, when the US withdrew its troops from the country, the number of fallen coalition soldiers exceeded 3,500, with about two-thirds of them being Americans.
Throughout the period of NATO forces' presence in Afghanistan, the US lost 2,465 personnel, followed by the UK with 457 deaths and Canada with 158 deaths.
However, when calculating the number of fallen NATO soldiers in Afghanistan proportionate to the populations of these countries, the US figure was 7.9 deaths per million people, followed by Denmark — 7.7, the UK — 7.2, and Estonia — 6.7.
Later on Friday, the White House issued a statement supporting the US President's perspective regarding NATO.
"President Trump is correct — America's contribution to NATO far outweighs that of other nations, and his success in achieving the 5 percent commitment on NATO allied spending helps Europe take on more responsibility for its own defence," the White House stated. "The United States is the only NATO partner that can defend Greenland, and the President, in acting this way, advances NATO's interests."