Trump on Saturday praised British troops who fought in Afghanistan, appearing to walk back earlier remarks that had sparked criticism from Nato allies over his comments on their role in the war.
In a clear flip-flop, US President Donald Trump on Saturday praised British troops who fought in Afghanistan, walking back comments he made earlier that had drawn sharp criticism from Nato allies.
In an interview on Thursday, Trump claimed that troops from non-American Nato countries had stayed away from the “front lines” during the Afghanistan war. The remarks triggered strong reactions across Europe, including from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who called them “insulting and frankly, appalling”.
‘US never needed Nato,’ Trump says
Speaking to Fox Business, Trump also said the US “never needed” the transatlantic military alliance, one of the pillars of the post-World War II international order.
“We have never really asked anything of them,” he said. “They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan or this or that, and they did. They stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.”
Praise for UK troops, no apology
However, in a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump said the “great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America”. He did not issue a direct apology for his earlier remarks.
Trump described those who were killed or badly injured as “among the greatest of all warriors”.
“The UK military, with tremendous heart and soul, is second to none (except for the USA!). We love you all, and always will!” he added.
Afghanistan war toll
During the Afghanistan war, 3,621 coalition soldiers were killed, including around 1,160 from US allies. Among them were 457 British servicemen and women.
Starmer raises issue with Trump
Starmer’s office said the Prime Minister discussed the issue with Trump during a phone call 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,” Downing Street said in a statement. “We must never forget their sacrifice.”
NATO’s only Article 5 invocation
Following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, the US led an international coalition in Afghanistan aimed at toppling the terror group Al Qaeda and the Taliban regime. NATO invoked Article 5 for the first and only time to date.
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