British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described US President Donald Trump’s comments about Nato troops in Afghanistan as “insulting and frankly appalling” as calls grow for the American leader to apologise.
Remarks about allied troops in Afghanistan by Mr Trump in an interview with Fox News have ignited a firestorm of controversy across dozens of countries. The US leader was in Europe when he said Nato allied troops “stayed a little off the front lines” in Afghanistan. “We’ve never needed them,” he said.
His remarks have drawn widespread condemnation from across the UK political spectrum. Speaking at Downing Street, Mr Starmer paid tribute to the 457 British personnel who died in Afghanistan, and those who were wounded.
“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,” said Mr Starmer.
Prince Harry, a former British Army Air Corps co-pilot gunner who undertook two frontline tours to Afghanistan, said the “sacrifices” of British soldiers who fought and died in Afghanistan “deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect”.
“In 2001, Nato invoked Article 5 for the first - and only - time in history. It meant that every allied nation was obliged to stand with the United States in Afghanistan, in pursuit of our shared security. Allies answered that call," he said.
“I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there."
The comments by Mr Trump came in the same week many were alienated in Europe when he ramped up his demands to take over Greenland. The White House on Friday underlined the President's comments about imbalances in the burdens of Nato.
“President Trump is right – America’s contributions to Nato dwarf that of other countries, and his success in delivering a 5 per cent spending pledge from Nato allies is helping Europe take greater responsibility for its own defence,” Anna Kelly, the deputy press secretary.
Veteran fury
UK Defence Minister Al Carns, a former commando who served five tours in Afghanistan and was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry, said Mr Trump’s comments were “ridiculous”.
The former Royal Marines colonel, without referring to Mr Trump by name, said: “On Afghanistan, frankly, this is utterly ridiculous. Many courageous and honourable service personnel from many nations fought on the front line. Many fought way beyond it.
“I served five tours in Afghanistan, many alongside my American colleagues. We shed blood, sweat and tears together. Not everybody came home. These are bonds, I think, forged in fire, protecting the US, our shared interests, but actually protecting democracy overall.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Mr Trump’s comments were “complete nonsense” that could weaken the Nato alliance. “I spoke to parents of young men who had lost their lives in Afghanistan and I think it is a disgrace to denigrate their memory like that,” she said.
Diane Dernie, whose son Ben Parkinson suffered horrific injuries when an army Land Rover hit a mine near Musa Qala in 2006, said the US President’s comments were “the ultimate insult”.
Nato veterans said the US leader's remarks were offensive and wrong.
“We expect an apology for this statement,” said Roman Polko, a retired Polish general and former special forces commander who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Trump has “crossed a red line”, he added. “We paid with blood for this alliance. We truly sacrificed our own lives.”
