Donald Trump has praised UK soldiers who fought in Afghanistan after his claim that allied forces avoided the front lines prompted criticism from veterans and politicians. Earlier this week Trump angered US allies by downplaying the role of NATO troops in the war and doubted whether the military alliance would be there for the US 'if we ever needed them'. Trump's words drew condemnation from international allies, while Sir Keir Starmer called them 'insulting and frankly appalling'. The UK prime minister spoke to Trump on Saturday, after which the US president used his Truth Social platform to praise UK troops as being 'among the greatest of all warriors'.
Trump was criticised for remarks he made during an interview with Fox News on Thursday in which the president said of NATO troops: 'We've never needed them. We have never really asked anything of them. They'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan... and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.' That triggered a huge backlash from the families of soldiers who served in Afghanistan, as well as veterans and politicians from across the Westminster and international spectrum who called for Trump to apologise.
Prince Harry said the sacrifices of troops needed to be respected as he pointed out that NATO's collective security clause had been invoked once - following the 9/11 attacks.
In October 2001, the US invaded Afghanistan to oust the Taliban, whom they said were harbouring Osama Bin Laden and other al-Qaeda figures linked to the 9/11 attacks the previous month. NATO nations contributed troops and military equipment to the US-led war, with more than 3,500 coalition soldiers dying, about two-thirds of them Americans, as of 2021 when the US withdrew from the country. The UK suffered the second-highest number of military deaths in the conflict behind the US.
In his subsequent comments, Trump aimed to amend his previous remarks, stating that 'the great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America,' acknowledging the sacrifices made by over 457 UK soldiers was recognized. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch expressed her satisfaction that Trump acknowledged the UK's role in Afghanistan, emphasizing that such recognition should never have been questioned.
Trump's comments didn't specifically recognize the contributions of other NATO allies who fought in Afghanistan, leading to further critique from international leaders and historical reflections from veterans regarding the sacrifices they made during the conflict.
Trump was criticised for remarks he made during an interview with Fox News on Thursday in which the president said of NATO troops: 'We've never needed them. We have never really asked anything of them. They'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan... and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.' That triggered a huge backlash from the families of soldiers who served in Afghanistan, as well as veterans and politicians from across the Westminster and international spectrum who called for Trump to apologise.
Prince Harry said the sacrifices of troops needed to be respected as he pointed out that NATO's collective security clause had been invoked once - following the 9/11 attacks.
In October 2001, the US invaded Afghanistan to oust the Taliban, whom they said were harbouring Osama Bin Laden and other al-Qaeda figures linked to the 9/11 attacks the previous month. NATO nations contributed troops and military equipment to the US-led war, with more than 3,500 coalition soldiers dying, about two-thirds of them Americans, as of 2021 when the US withdrew from the country. The UK suffered the second-highest number of military deaths in the conflict behind the US.
In his subsequent comments, Trump aimed to amend his previous remarks, stating that 'the great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America,' acknowledging the sacrifices made by over 457 UK soldiers was recognized. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch expressed her satisfaction that Trump acknowledged the UK's role in Afghanistan, emphasizing that such recognition should never have been questioned.
Trump's comments didn't specifically recognize the contributions of other NATO allies who fought in Afghanistan, leading to further critique from international leaders and historical reflections from veterans regarding the sacrifices they made during the conflict.
