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Donald Trump has ignited controversy in the UK by claiming that NATO troops were positioned “a little off the front lines” during the Afghanistan conflict. This statement provoked strong reactions from British politicians, with Labour MP Emily Thornberry, who chairs the foreign affairs committee, deeming it an “absolute insult” to the 457 British service members who lost their lives in the war. Similarly, Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, expressed outrage, questioning how Trump could “dare” to undermine the sacrifices made by these personnel. Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, himself a veteran of the Afghanistan campaign, also condemned the remarks, lamenting the perceived disregard for the sacrifices made by both the UK and NATO allies.
Trump made the comments during an appearance on Fox News, where he questioned the reliability of NATO, suggesting that the alliance might not support the United States if called upon. He claimed that America had “never needed” NATO and had “never really asked anything of them.” Regarding the Afghan war specifically, Trump remarked that while NATO allies did send troops, “they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.” He emphasized that the US had been generous to Europe and other countries and insisted that the relationship should be reciprocal, describing it as a “two-way street.”
Thornberry responded on BBC’s Question Time, insisting that Trump’s remarks went far beyond a mere mistake. She said, “It’s an absolute insult… How dare he say we weren’t on the front line, how dare he?” She criticized Trump as “a man who has never seen any action” yet now oversees American military policy despite lacking understanding of the nation’s defense history. Thornberry further accused him of bullying behavior, aimed at undermining not only the UK but also the NATO alliance itself. Stuart Andrew, a member of the Conservative shadow cabinet, echoed these sentiments, calling the comments “disgraceful” and “appalling.” He underscored the importance of the UK-US relationship in matters of defense and security, noting recent discussions initiated by Trump focusing on Arctic security threats.
Additional condemnation came from Sir Ed Davey, who pointed out Trump’s avoidance of military service and questioned his right to assess the bravery of British forces. Former Army officer Ben Obese-Jecty highlighted the personal sacrifices witnessed during his deployment, expressing sorrow that the President appeared to discount such commitments so lightly. Labour MP and ex-RAF officer Calvin Bailey, who served alongside US special operations in Afghanistan, dismissed Trump’s narrative as disconnected from the lived experiences of those who served. Bailey reminded that the mission in Afghanistan was founded on shared principles of freedom and resistance to tyranny, ideals deeply rooted in American history and pivotal to the coalition’s response following 9/11.
In response to the controversy, the UK’s Ministry of Defence referred to comments made by Defence Secretary John Healey during a recent visit to Denmark. Healey emphasized the close cooperation among NATO forces in Afghanistan, stating, “In Afghanistan, our forces trained together, they fought together, and on some occasions, they died together, making the ultimate sacrifice.” The UK was among the allied nations that joined the US in October 2001 to dismantle Taliban control, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. NATO members provided troops and equipment throughout the conflict, which concluded with the US withdrawal in 2021. Over 3,500 coalition fatalities were recorded, roughly two-thirds of whom were American, with the UK suffering the second highest number of military deaths. Notably, the United States remains the only nation to have invoked Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which regards an attack on one member as an attack on all
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