Trump Praises UK Troops After NATO Afghanistan Remarks Draw Fire

President Donald Trump praised UK troops as some of the greatest warriors on Saturday, hours after his comments questioning NATO allies' role in Afghanistan drew sharp criticism from world leaders. The shift came during a tense week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where Trump first made the remarks on Thursday.

Background

The row started when Trump spoke on Fox Business from Davos. He said the US had never really needed NATO partners in fights like Afghanistan. 'We've never needed them,' he said. 'We have never really asked anything of them. You know, they'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan or this or that. And they did. They stayed a little back, a little off the frontlines.'

Those words hit hard because NATO's Article 5 was invoked just once, after the 9/11 attacks on the US. Allies joined the fight in Afghanistan that lasted 20 years. Over 3,500 troops from NATO countries died there, including nearly 2,500 Americans. Britain lost 457 soldiers. Canada lost 158. France 90. Germany 60. Denmark 44, the highest rate per person outside the US.

Trump also questioned if NATO would stand by the US if attacked. NATO chief Mark Rutte met Trump in Davos and pushed back. Rutte said Europeans would help the US, just as they did in Afghanistan. He pointed out that for every two US soldiers killed, one from another NATO country died too.

Back home, a retired US admiral who commanded NATO forces there from 2009 to 2013 rejected the claim. James Stavridis said hundreds of allied troops died under his watch. He honors them every day.

Key Details

Backlash from Europe

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the comments insulting and appalling in a video on Friday. He said they hurt families of the fallen and the whole country. Starmer paid tribute to the 450-plus British soldiers who died.

“I consider President Trump’s remarks to be insulting and frankly, appalling. I’m not surprised they’ve caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured and, in fact, across the country.” – UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Prince Harry, who served two tours in Afghanistan, spoke out too. He wrote that thousands of lives changed forever. Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters. Children lost parents. Families still carry the pain. Those sacrifices need truthful words, he said.

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk recalled a 2011 ceremony for five Polish soldiers killed there. US officers told him America would never forget. Tusk said maybe they can remind Trump.

France's Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin said the French sacrifice demands respect.

Italy's Giorgia Meloni rebuked Trump over NATO's role. European soldiers posted old photos from Afghanistan online, captioning them with notes like 'Here's me doing nothing for America.'

A US veteran who fought there and got a brain injury said he is enraged by Trump's words.

Trump's Response and White House Stand

Trump walked back some on Saturday. He called UK soldiers in Afghanistan among the greatest warriors. This came after the royal family showed hurt over his initial claims.

The White House backed Trump on Friday. Spokeswoman Anna Kelly said America does more for NATO than others. She highlighted Trump's push for allies to spend 5% more on defense. The US alone can protect places like Greenland, she added. Kelly did not address the death tolls.

NATO's Rutte reminded Trump of the losses during their Davos meeting on Wednesday. 'There is one thing I heard you say yesterday and today, you were not absolutely sure that Europeans would come to the rescue of the U.S. if you will be attacked,' Rutte said. 'Let me tell you, they will. And they did in Afghanistan.'

Trump took swipes at NATO spending overall. He seemed to ease off threats like seizing Greenland.

What This Means

The clash highlights long-running tensions in NATO. The US foots most of the bill and sends the most troops. Allies say they pull their weight, especially in blood shed. Trump's words reopen old wounds from Afghanistan, where coalition forces trained locals, fought Taliban, and tried to build a stable government before the 2021 pullout.

Starmer's call for an apology shows strain with the US-UK 'special relationship.' Prince Harry's rare comment adds weight, given his military service and royal ties. Families of the fallen feel dismissed after years of shared grief.

Trump's praise for UK troops may calm things with Britain. But leaders like Tusk and Vautrin want more. They stress mutual defense is key to NATO's strength.

The White House focus on spending pledges points to Trump's goal: get Europe to pay more. Allies boosted budgets after his first term pressure. Now, with global threats from Russia and China, NATO unity matters more.

Veterans on both sides watch closely. Stavridis honors allied dead daily. British and others shared stories of frontline service. One Dane unit had high losses per capita. Canadians patrolled dangerous areas. French fought in fierce battles.

This could affect talks ahead. Davos set the stage for alliance meetings. Trump's Davos trip mixed business with tough talk. Allies say they proved loyalty post-9/11. Trump says proof comes in checkbooks and full commitment.

The row shows how fast words can stir pain from old wars. Troops from many nations fought together. Their losses bind the alliance. Dismissing that risks trust needed for future fights.