United States President Donald Trump has sparked a backlash and anger in the United Kingdom after claiming that NATO troops serving in Afghanistan stayed away from the front lines, downplaying the role and sacrifice of American allies. Trump made the comments in an interview with Fox News, where he reiterated his belief that NATO would not support the United States if needed. “We never needed them,” he said. “They said they were going to send some troops to Afghanistan… and they did, but they stayed a little bit back, away from the front lines.”

The comments were widely condemned by British MPs and war veterans, who pointed out that 457 British soldiers have died in Afghanistan, while thousands more have been injured during combat missions. Labour MP Calvin Bailey, a former Royal Air Force (RAF) officer who served alongside US special operations units in Afghanistan, told the Press Association that Trump’s claims “have no connection whatsoever to the reality experienced by those who served on the ground”. Conservative MP Ben Obsi-Jekti, a former captain in the Royal Yorkshire Regiment, called it “sad” how, in his view, the sacrifice of Britain and its NATO partners was being treated so lightly by the US president.

The chairman of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, Tan Dezey, called Trump's comments "appalling" and "an insult to the British men and women who risked their lives to help our allies". The chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Emily Thornberry, also said the comments were "more than a mistake" and an insult to the families of fallen soldiers. Trump has been criticised for years for avoiding military service during the Vietnam War through medical exemptions, a fact that was recalled by critics after the latest statements.

Former soldier and journalist Stephen Stewart said the US president's comments were "both offensive and inaccurate", adding that Trump "has desecrated the memory of hundreds of British soldiers who sacrificed their lives in Afghanistan". Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey wrote on Platform X that Trump "has avoided military service five times" and has no right to question the sacrifice of allied soldiers. The UK has suffered the second highest number of military casualties in Afghanistan after the US, which lost 2,461 soldiers. In total, allied countries lost around 1,160 troops, roughly a third of the coalition's casualties. The United States remains the only country to have invoked NATO's Article 5 for collective defence, following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, when the alliance lined up in support of Washington.

© BalkansWeb
To become part of the group "Balkanweb" just click: Join Group and your request will be approved immediately. Groups Balkanweb
Label: