Nato Allies Condemn Trump's Comments on Afghanistan Conflict
The Duke of Sussex has called for the sacrifices of Nato troops to be "spoken about truthfully and with respect" after US President Donald Trump claimed allies stayed "a little back" from the front lines in Afghanistan.
Trump's Comments Draw Widespread Condemnation
Prince Harry, who served twice in Afghanistan, paid tribute to Nato troops killed in the conflict, including 457 UK service personnel. The prince was reacting to Trump's comments made in an interview on Thursday, which drew condemnation from international allies, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calling them "insulting and frankly appalling."
The UK and other nations joined the US in Afghanistan after Nato's collective security clause was invoked following the 9/11 attacks. Prince Harry said: "In 2001, Nato invoked Article 5 for the first - and only - time in history. It meant that every allied nation was obliged to stand with the United States in Afghanistan, in pursuit of our shared security. Allies answered that call."
He added: "Thousands of lives were changed forever. Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters. Children were left without a parent. Families are left carrying the cost. Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect, as we all remain united and loyal to the defence of diplomacy and peace."
International Leaders Weigh in on Trump's Comments
Poland's foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who served on the frontline in Afghanistan, said: "No one has the right to mock the service of our soldiers." Canada's Minister of National Defence David J McGuinty said that Canadian "men and women were on the ground from the beginning, not because we had to, but because it was the right thing to do." He added that 158 of their troops "paid the ultimate price" for leading allied efforts in the Kandahar Province.
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, former secretary general of Nato during the Afghanistan War, told the BBC World Service: "No American president should have the liberty to belittle their legacy and to insult the ones who are still grieving the fact that they didn't come back alive from Afghanistan. What I would expect is a sincere apology from the president of the United States."
US Allies Call for Trump to Apologize
In the UK, leaders from across the political divide condemned Trump's remarks. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: "I spoke to parents of young men who have lost their lives. It is a disgrace to denigrate their memory like that. There is too much careless talk from President Trump. He clearly doesn't know the history of what happened."
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey criticised the US president's remarks and said: "Trump avoided military service five times. How dare he question their sacrifice."
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: "Donald Trump is wrong. For 20 years our armed forces fought bravely alongside America's in Afghanistan." American political and military figures have also expressed their anger and frustration over Trump's Nato comments.
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