US President Donald Trump has claimed that NATO troops were "at a safe distance" in the Afghan war, not on the front lines. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has strongly criticized Trump's comments as "insulting and terrible." He expressed his anger in a video message on Friday.
In an interview aired on Fox News last Thursday, Donald Trump claimed that NATO member countries did not play a very courageous role in the Afghan war. He said, "They will say that they sent troops to Afghanistan. They did, but they were in a safe position a little away from the front lines."
Trump also said that NATO member countries may not come forward if the United States is in danger.
Trump's comments have sparked a strong reaction in Britain's political arena. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid tribute to the dead British soldiers, saying, "457 members of our armed forces have lost their lives in Afghanistan. Many more have been disabled."
Starmer said that Trump's comments were not only insulting, but also highly reprehensible. Trump's statement has deeply wounded the hearts of those who have lost their loved ones. He himself would have apologized if he had given such incorrect information.
However, the White House rejected the British Prime Minister's criticism. Defending Trump's position, White House spokesman Taylor Rogers told AFP, "President Trump is absolutely right. The United States has done more than all the other countries in the NATO alliance combined."
According to UK government figures, more than 150,000 British troops have served in Afghanistan from September 2001 to August 2021. Of the 457 British soldiers who have died in Afghanistan, 405 were killed in direct enemy action. On the other hand, more than 2,400 US troops have lost their lives in the long war.
Current and former UK military officials have condemned Trump's remarks. British Defense Minister John Healy paid tribute to the fallen soldiers on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), writing, "They were heroes. They gave their lives in the service of their nation."
Al Cairns, the UK's armed forces minister, who has fought in five combat missions in Afghanistan, dismissed Trump's claim as "completely ridiculous".
Conservative Party leader Kim Biddencock called Trump's statement "completely baseless" and warned that it could weaken the NATO alliance.
Nigel Farage, leader of the UK's Reform UK party and a long-time ally of Trump, criticized the US president, saying, "Donald Trump is wrong. British soldiers have fought shoulder to shoulder with American soldiers for 20 years."
Prince Harry, a member of the British royal family who fought in the Afghan war, also criticized Trump in a statement. He said, "I served there. I made friends there and I lost many friends. Thousands of lives were changed forever. Parents buried their children. Many children were orphaned. Families are still carrying that loss. That sacrifice should be spoken of with truth and honor."
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