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 and questioned whether the military alliance would be there for the US if we ever needed them.
Trump's words drew condemnation from international allies, while Sir Keir Starmer called them insulting and frankly appalling.
The UK prime minister spoke to Trump on Saturday, after which the US president used his Truth Social platform to praise UK troops as being among the greatest of all warriors.
Trump was criticized for remarks he made during an interview with Fox News on Thursday in which the president said of NATO troops: We've never needed them. We have never really asked anything of them. They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan... and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.
That triggered a huge backlash from the families of soldiers who served in Afghanistan, as well as veterans and politicians from across the Westminster and international spectrum who called for Trump to apologize.
In October 2001, the US invaded Afghanistan to oust the Taliban, whom they said were harboring Osama Bin Laden and other al-Qaeda figures linked to the 9/11 attacks. NATO nations contributed troops and military equipment to the US-led war.
On Saturday, Downing Street said the prime minister and US president spoke about the UK's involvement alongside US and NATO forces in the conflict. Shortly after their conversation, Trump expressed his appreciation for British troops on his social media platform. He acknowledged the sacrifices made, stating that the UK military is second to none (except for the USA). We love you all, and always will!
This back-and-forth highlights the sensitive nature of international military contributions and the importance of recognizing the sacrifices made by soldiers from various nations.
