Trump’s Remarks on Afghanistan War Draw Sharp Criticism from UK Officials
Donald Trump, the President of the United States, sparked widespread criticism in Britain after claiming that NATO allies avoided frontline combat in the Afghanistan war. In a recent interview with Fox News, Trump stated that NATO forces in Afghanistan were positioned “a bit further back” than American troops and tended to stay away from the front lines. He also expressed doubt that NATO would stand with the US again if there was a “real need.”
Trump added, “We never really needed them. They will say they sent troops to Afghanistan, yes that’s true, but they stayed back and away from the front lines.” These comments quickly drew negative reactions from US European allies.
In response, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, speaking on the sidelines of the Davos economic summit, recalled the attacks of September 11 and reaffirmed that NATO members would undoubtedly stand with Washington if the US were attacked again. Rutte told Trump that doubting Europe’s commitment contradicts past realities.
Regarding the Afghanistan war, Rutte noted that NATO allies were present and paid a heavy price. According to him, for every two American soldiers killed, one soldier from other NATO member countries also lost their life and never returned home.
In the UK, Health Secretary Stephen Kinlock described Trump’s remarks as “deeply disappointing” and said the claims have no factual basis. He emphasized that questioning the sacrifices of British forces ignores the realities of the Afghanistan conflict.
Emily Thornberry, Chair of the UK House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, called the comments a “blatant insult” to the families of the fallen. Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, criticized Trump’s right to judge the sacrifices of military personnel, referencing Trump’s history of military draft exemptions.
Several UK parliamentarians with Afghanistan service experience also reacted. Calvin Bailey, a former Royal Air Force officer, said the statements do not align with the field experience of British troops, while Ben Obes Jaketi, a former army captain, regretted the minimization of NATO partners’ roles.
