At a Glance
- Prince Harry condemns Trump’s comments about NATO troops in Afghanistan.
- Trump said NATO forces were “a little off the front lines.”
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer calls the remarks insulting and appalling.
- Why it matters: The exchange strains US-UK relations and tests NATO unity.
Prince Harry, who served two tours in Afghanistan, publicly rebuked President Donald Trump’s remarks about NATO soldiers, saying the sacrifices of British troops “deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect.” The comments came after Trump told Fox Business that NATO troops were “a little off the front lines” during the Afghan conflict.
Trump’s Comments Spark International Backlash
On Thursday, Trump said U.S. allies “answered” the call to stand with American troops after NATO invoked Article 5 following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. He added that the United States had “never needed” the trans-Atlantic military alliance and that NATO forces had “stayed a little back.”
These remarks drew fierce criticism across Europe:
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called them “insulting and frankly, appalling.”
- The comments worsened diplomatic relations with traditional European allies already smarting from Trump’s push to acquire Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark.
- Trump also used part of his speech at this week’s World Economic Forum in Davos to excoriate Europe, saying countries there are “destroying themselves.”
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers defended Trump, saying: “President Trump is absolutely right – the United States of America has done more for NATO than any other country in the alliance has done combined.”
Harry’s Response
In a statement released Friday, Prince Harry said:
> “I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there. The United Kingdom alone had 457 service personnel killed,” the Duke of Sussex said. “Thousands of lives were changed forever. Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters. Children were left without a parent. Families are left carrying the cost.”
He added that those sacrifices “deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect, as we all remain united and loyal to the defense of diplomacy and peace.”
Harry’s comments come after the British government’s own record of the war:
- The British military deployed more than 150,000 troops in Afghanistan.
- Harry’s first tour of duty began in 2007; his second, as an Apache helicopter pilot, started in September 2012.
- In his 2023 memoir Spare, he wrote that he killed 25 enemy combatants during his two tours.
Context of NATO and Afghanistan
NATO invoked Article 5 for the first and only time after the September 11, 2001 attacks. The alliance formed a coalition that aimed to topple Al Qaeda and the Taliban. The British military’s deployment of 150,000 troops was a significant contribution to that effort.
Trump’s remarks that NATO troops were “off the front lines” contradict the record of joint operations in Afghanistan, where allied forces worked closely with U.S. troops.
Diplomatic Fallout
Starmer said that if Trump had “misspoken in that way or said those words, I would certainly apologize.” The exchange highlights growing tensions between the United States and its European partners. The comments also come amid Trump’s broader criticism of European allies and his interest in acquiring Greenland.
Key Takeaways
- Prince Harry publicly condemned Trump’s remarks, emphasizing the sacrifices of British soldiers.
- Trump defended the U.S. role in NATO, stating that the U.S. has done more for the alliance than any other country.
- European leaders, especially the UK, reacted strongly, calling the remarks insulting.
- The incident underscores the delicate balance of U.S. leadership within NATO and the importance of respectful dialogue among allies.
Conclusion
The clash over NATO’s role in Afghanistan highlights deep divisions within the alliance and raises questions about how the United States will navigate its relationships with European partners moving forward.
