United States President Donald Trump has characterised British soldiers as being among the greatest warriors in history, a statement that follows a sharp rebuke from United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Keir Starmer had previously criticised Trump’s assertions that European troops stayed away from the front lines during the war in Afghanistan, reports Al Jazeera.
Trump acknowledged on social media on Saturday that 457 UK service members died in the conflict and many others were wounded, stating that the connection between the two countries is an unbreakable bond.
The diplomatic tension eased slightly after a phone call between the two leaders earlier that day, during which Starmer highlighted the joint heroism of British and American forces.
According to a statement from the prime minister’s office, he told Trump that the sacrifices of those who did not return must never be forgotten.
This followed an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos where Trump told Fox News that European contingents had remained a little off the front lines. Starmer had reacted by calling those comments insulting and appalling, suggesting he would apologise if he had made such remarks.
Prince Harry, the younger son of King Charles and a veteran of two tours in Afghanistan, also responded by stating that the service of British soldiers should be treated with respect and honesty.
Furthermore, leaders from other NATO nations, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and French President Emmanuel Macron, expressed their own strong objections on Saturday.
The military campaign in Afghanistan saw contributions from dozens of countries under NATO’s Article 5, which was invoked following the attacks on New York and Washington in 2001.
In addition to the 457 British deaths and more than 2,400 American fatalities, Canada lost over 150 personnel and France lost 90, with further casualties reported from Germany, Italy, and Denmark.
Research from Brown University’s Costs of War project also estimated that the 2001 invasion resulted in the deaths of at least 46,319 Afghan civilians.
