In a controversial move, former US President Donald Trump has sparked outrage in the UK by claiming that NATO troops “stayed a little back, a little off the front line” during the war in Afghanistan. His remarks have been widely condemned as an “absolute insult” to the 457 British service personnel who lost their lives in the conflict.
Labour MP Emily Thornberry, the chair of the foreign affairs committee, expressed her outrage, stating: “How dare he say we weren’t on the front line, how dare he?” She emphasised that the UK has always been there whenever the Americans have needed them, and accused Trump of being “a man who has never seen any action” but is now “commander in chief and knows nothing about how it is that America has been defended.”
Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who served in Afghanistan, described Trump’s comments as “sad to see our nation’s sacrifice, and that of our NATO partners, held so cheaply by the president of the United States.” He added that he doesn’t believe US military personnel share the view of President Trump, and that his words do them a disservice as their closest military allies.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also weighed in, saying: “How dare he question their sacrifice?” He pointed out that Trump himself had “avoided military service” during the Vietnam War.
The UK was among several allies that joined the US in Afghanistan from 2001, after the 9/11 terror attacks. The US-led war has resulted in the deaths of more than 3,500 coalition soldiers, with the UK suffering the second-highest number of military deaths behind the US.
Defence Secretary John Healey, while visiting NATO ally Denmark, acknowledged the sacrifice made by the forces, stating: “In Afghanistan, our forces trained together, they fought together, and on some occasions, they died together, making the ultimate sacrifice.”
The backlash against Trump’s remarks highlights the deep respect and appreciation for the sacrifices made by the British and other NATO troops during the lengthy conflict in Afghanistan.