Trump backtracks on statements condemned by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Superlative message about British soldiers
Keir Starmer and Donald Trump at the White House. Photo: AA/ABACA / Abaca Press / Profimedia
US President Donald Trump had caused outrage with statements made about the role played by allies in the Afghanistan campaign, and one of those who criticized the claims was British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
In an appearance on Fox News on Thursday, US President Donald Trump said the United States “never needed” NATO and accused the allies of staying “a little too far from the front lines” in Afghanistan.
On Saturday, the US leader said British soldiers were “among the greatest warriors”.
“The great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom will always stand with the United States of America,” Trump said in a social media post, as quoted by AFP.
“In Afghanistan, 457 died, many were seriously injured and were among the greatest warriors. It is a bond too strong to ever be broken,” he added.
Trump, criticized for the statements
After Thursday's remarks about the Afghanistan campaign, the only time the collective defense clause in NATO's founding treaty was activated, the current US president was criticized by both European leaders and veterans on the continent.
The British prime minister said the claims were “offensive and frankly appalling” and suggested the US president should apologize for the claims, according to the BBC.
Roman Polko, a retired Polish general and former special operations forces commander who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, told Reuters the veterans expected an apology from the US leader.
Trump “crossed a red line,” he added. “We paid in blood for this alliance. We truly sacrificed our own lives,” Polko pointed out.
How many allied soldiers died in Afghanistan
The campaign in Afghanistan, launched in response to the terrorist attacks on the US on September 11, 2001, has killed about 2,460 US soldiers, according to official figures.
457 British soldiers, 150 Canadians, 90 French soldiers also died in the war.
Denmark lost 44 soldiers, having one of the highest death rates per capita among NATO countries.
Romania lost 27 soldiers in Afghanistan.
