Donald Trump has praised UK soldiers who fought in Afghanistan after his claim that allied forces avoided the front lines prompted criticism from veterans and politicians.
Earlier this week, Trump angered US allies by downplaying the role of NATO troops in the war, suggesting they were not essential to the effort and questioning their reliability. Following backlash, he addressed the remarks through his social media, referring to British soldiers as 'among the greatest of all warriors.'
His criticisms first surfaced during an interview with Fox News, igniting outrage among the families of soldiers who served in Afghanistan, and led to demands for an apology. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had a conversation with Trump, after which Trump highlighted the bravery of UK troops in his latest statements.
More than 3,500 soldiers from NATO nations lost their lives during the Afghanistan conflict, with the UK suffering 457 fatalities. Trump’s comments came in light of the shared sacrifices made by UK and US forces, as emphasized by Downing Street after his conversation with Sunak.
The former President's latest attempts to clarify his comments failed to extend appreciation to other NATO allies, leading to further criticism. British and international political leaders expressed their dissatisfaction, reiterating the significant contributions made by their troops throughout the campaign in Afghanistan.
