Donald Trump praises British soldiers after sparking outrage among European NATO allies over remarks about their role in the Afghanistan war
COPENHAGEN: US President Donald Trump offered praise for British troops on Saturday amid a growing diplomatic row over his comments about NATO allies’ contributions in Afghanistan.
Trump’s claim in a Fox News interview that non-US NATO forces “stayed a little back, a little off the front lines” had drawn sharp condemnation from European leaders.
He appeared to partially walk back those remarks specifically regarding the United Kingdom in a post on his Truth Social platform.
“The GREAT and very BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America!” Trump stated.
“In Afghanistan, 457 died, many were badly injured, and they were among the greatest of all warriors. It’s a bond too strong to ever be broken.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had condemned Trump’s initial remarks as “appalling” on Friday.
A Downing Street spokesperson said Starmer raised the issue during a call with Trump on Saturday.
“The Prime Minister raised the brave and heroic British and American soldiers who fought side by side in Afghanistan, many of whom never returned home,” the spokesperson said.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her government’s astonishment, calling Trump’s comments “unacceptable.”
She noted that Italy paid a high cost with 53 soldiers killed and more than 700 wounded during NATO operations.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk recalled American officers promising never to forget Polish heroes during a farewell for fallen soldiers in 2011.
“Perhaps they will remind President Trump of that fact,” Tusk wrote on social media.
The office of French President Emmanuel Macron said the comments were “unacceptable” and “not worthy of response.”
Approximately 90 French soldiers died in Afghanistan according to the French government.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also labelled the remarks “unacceptable” on Saturday.
She fully understood the hurt felt by Danish veterans, whose country suffered high losses per capita.
Danish veterans have called for a silent protest march in Copenhagen on January 31.
The White House initially rejected Starmer’s criticism of Trump’s comments.
“President Trump is absolutely right — the United States of America has done more for NATO than any other country in the alliance has done combined,” spokeswoman Taylor Rogers stated.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius recalled the “heavy price” his country paid, with many wounded still suffering today.
Britain and other allies joined the US in Afghanistan from 2001 after Washington invoked NATO’s collective security clause following the 9/11 attack