In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, the US president criticized other NATO countries for the attitude of their soldiers during the 20-year conflict in Afghanistan. He stated, among other things, that the US “never needed them.”
What did Donald Trump say about NATO?
How did the Italian Prime Minister react to Trump's words?
How many Italian soldiers died in Afghanistan?
What actions will the Italian defense minister take in response to Trump?
Italian Prime Minister outraged by Donald Trump's words
“The Italian government was astonished by President Trump's statements that NATO allies were left behind during the operation in Afghanistan,” says the statement of the head of the Italian government.
She added: “Words that diminish the contribution of NATO countries in Afghanistan are unacceptableespecially when they come from an ally country.
“Friendship requires respect, a fundamental condition to continue to guarantee the solidarity that lies at the heart of the North Atlantic Alliance,” Meloni said.
She recalled that such an act of solidarity was the activation of NATO Article 5 after the terrorist attacks in the USA on September 11, 2001.
The Prime Minister emphasized that when joining the operation against terrorists, Italy responded immediately together with other allies.
She also recalled that during the 20-year involvement in Afghanistan, 53 Italian soldiers were killed and 700 were wounded.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto wrote on Platform X: “On the involvement of Italy, the armed forces during the mission, their value, their sacrifice, their non-marginal role we cannot and do not want to accept superficial and erroneous analyses; from anyone“.
Italian television reported that the head of the Ministry of Defense will send an official letter to US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in response to President Trump's words.
