US President Donald Trump’s comments dismissing the sacrifices of NATO allied nations in the 20-year Afghanistan war have drawn sharp criticism from European leaders.
In an interview with Fox News on Thursday in Davos,
Switzerland, Trump said NATO troops “stayed a little back, a little off the
front lines”.
He said the US had “never needed” its NATO allies.
NATO is a military alliance of several European nations and
the US. It functions by treating a threat or an attack on one nation as an
assault on all.
The Afghanistan war (2001-2021) began after the 9/11
attacks, when US forces invaded the country to dismantle al-Qaeda and oust the
Taliban regime harbouring them.
NATO invoked its Article 5 mutual defence clause for the
first time on September 12, 2001, joining the US in the war.
Total coalition deaths were reported at around 3,600, with
the US losing more than 2,200 troops, according to the Pentagon.
Allies such as the United Kingdom (UK) reportedly lost 457
personnel; Canada lost 158 soldiers; and France lost 86, while hundreds more
were injured and lost limbs.
Reacting on Friday, Keir Starmer, UK prime minister, said
Trump’s remarks were “insulting and frankly appalling”.
“I will never forget their courage, their bravery and the
sacrifice they made for their country,” Starmer said.
“I consider President Trump’s remarks to be insulting and
frankly appalling and I am not surprised they have caused such hurt to the
loved ones of those who were killed or injured and, in fact, across the
country.”
Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan, also kicked against
the US president’s comments, saying the “sacrifices” made by NATO troops
“deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect”.
Nicholas Burns, former US ambassador to China, described
Trump’s remarks as “shameful”.
Trump has yet to publicly react to the backlash.
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