The American president’s statements about the role of the allied forces in his war caused strong reactions throughout Europe and at home. His remarks, made in an interview with Fox News in the past few days, brought back to the fore a deeply traumatic period for dozens of countries and thousands of families of soldiers who took part in the conflict from 2001 to 2021.
Trump argued that the United States “never needed” NATO, implying that the allies would not rush to support Washington if asked. At the same time, he claimed that the troops of the member countries of the Alliance sent to Afghanistan “were a little behind” and “far from the front lines”, causing a wave of anger and condemnation.
The statements that lit the fire
In his interview, the American president said: “They said they would send some troops to Afghanistan… and they did. But they stayed a little behind, a little away from the front lines. We never needed them.”
These phrases were considered by many to be not only politically provocative, but also insulting to the memory of soldiers killed on the battlefield, as well as those who were wounded or served for years in extremely dangerous conditions.
UK fury: ‘Insult to the dead’
The strongest reaction came from the United Kingdom, the country with the second highest number of casualties in the conflict after the United States. In total, 457 British soldiers have died in Afghanistan, while thousands more have returned seriously injured or traumatized.
Labor MP and former RAF officer Calvin Bailey, who served in Afghanistan alongside US special forces, said Mr Trump’s claims “have nothing to do with the reality lived by those who served there”.
For his part, Conservative MP Ben Obsie-Jackty, a former captain in the Royal Yorkshire Regiment, spoke of the “sad” and “outrageous” way in which the sacrifice of the British and their allies is being treated.
Starmer intervention and condemnation from across the political spectrum
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Trump’s remarks “insulting and frankly disgusting”, noting that they had caused deep pain to the families of the dead and injured.
“If I had made such a comment, I would certainly apologise,” he said, paying tribute to British soldiers killed in the war.
Other politicians followed suit, including Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan and said the sacrifices of NATO forces “deserve to be told with truth and respect”.
Denmark: “Unbearable questioning of our offer”
The reaction of Denmark, the country that recorded the largest number of casualties per inhabitant in the Alliance, was particularly strong. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the questioning of the allies’ contribution as “intolerable”, stressing that 44 Danish soldiers have lost their lives in Afghanistan.
The Danish Veterans Association said it was “at a loss for words” to describe its anger and frustration, while calling for a silent protest march in Copenhagen.
France and Italy recall the price of war
In France, President Emmanuel Macron expressed his full support for the families of the 89 French soldiers killed in the war, calling Trump’s remarks “unacceptable” and “unworthy of comment”.
The Italian government, for its part, recalled that Rome participated for almost 20 years in the international mission, with 53 dead and more than 700 wounded, while taking responsibility for critical operational areas.
Article 5 and the historical reality
Criticism of Trump was accompanied by reminders of a pivotal historical fact: the United States is the only country to have ever invoked NATO’s Article 5 on collective defense since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Then, the allies responded immediately, sending in troops, taking over operations and paying a heavy toll in human life. In total, US allies suffered 1,160 dead, about a third of the total losses of the international coalition.
The irony of tenure and the political background
The backlash was further heightened by the fact that Donald Trump had avoided military service in the Vietnam War, citing a medical diagnosis that has been hotly disputed for decades.
Former military personnel and analysts emphasized that his statements not only hurt US relations with its allies, but also touch on a deep moral issue concerning the memory of the fallen and the historical truth of the war in Afghanistan.
A wound that remains open
More than twenty years after the conflict began, . The American president’s remarks not only stirred up political tensions, but also personal losses, reminding that for thousands of families the war never really ended.
