Sir Keir Starmer has stated Donald Trump’s claims British troops weren’t on the frontline in Afghanistan had been “insulting and admittedly appalling” – and prompt he ought to apologise.
Veterans and their households, in addition to MPs from all events, have reacted with fury after the US president stated NATO troops stayed “a bit of off the frontlines” in Afghanistan.
In an interview with Fox Information in Davos, Mr Trump repeated his criticism, saying he was not “positive” the army alliance would “be there if we ever wanted them”.
He added: “We have by no means wanted them. They’re going to say they despatched some troops to Afghanistan… they usually did, they stayed a bit of again, a bit of off the frontlines.”
On Friday afternoon, Sir Keir stated: “I contemplate President Trump’s remarks to be insulting and admittedly, appalling.
“And I am not shocked they’ve induced such harm to the family members of those that had been killed or injured.”
He added that if he had stated one thing like that, he would “actually apologise”.
Earlier, Downing Avenue stated Mr Trump was “mistaken” to decrease the function of NATO and British troops in Afghanistan.
The prime minister’s official spokesman stated UK forces had served alongside the US and NATO in “sustained fight operations”.
Pointing to the 457 British deaths in Afghanistan and the “many tons of” extra who had been wounded, he added: “We’re extremely happy with our armed forces and their service and sacrifice won’t ever be forgotten.”
America is the one NATO member to have invoked the collective safety provisions of its Article 5 clause – that an assault in opposition to one member is an assault on all.
Trump’s remarks ‘the final word insult’
Diane Dernie, whose son Ben Parkinson suffered horrific accidents when his car hit a mine in Afghanistan in 2006, stated the US president’s feedback had been “the final word insult”.
Mr Parkinson is extensively considered as probably the most severely injured British soldier to have survived the battle.
The blast left the previous lance bombardier with each legs amputated, a twisted backbone and mind harm.
His mom stated: “I can guarantee you, the Taliban did not plant IEDs [improvised explosive devices] miles and miles again from the entrance line.
“Come and take a look at us, the life that Ben leads – 19-and-a-half years on, nonetheless preventing for his care, nonetheless preventing for him to have an honest life, recovering from a current operation.
“To listen to this man say: ‘Oh, effectively, you simply fannied about behind the entrance strains’… It is the final word insult.”
She stated Sir Keir Starmer has “bought to face up for his personal armed forces and he is bought to completely refute what Donald Trump stated”.
“Name him out,” she added.
‘We shed blood, sweat and tears’
Defence minister Al Carns stated: “I served 5 excursions in Afghanistan, many alongside my American colleagues. We shed blood, sweat and tears collectively. Not everyone got here dwelling.
“These are bonds, I believe, cast in fireplace, defending the US, our shared pursuits, however really defending democracy general.”
The previous commando, who served 5 excursions in Afghanistan and was awarded the Army Cross for gallantry, stated Mr Trump’s feedback had been “ridiculous”, including: “Many brave and honourable service personnel from many countries fought on the entrance line. Many fought means past it.”
Robert Dicketts, whose son Oliver Dicketts, 27, was killed whereas serving with the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan in 2006, stated: “After I learn it, I assumed, ‘What a bloody cheek!’.
“I believe my ideas about Donald Trump are in all probability unprintable.
“To place it politely, Donald Trump’s information of historical past is missing significantly.”
‘Heroes who gave their lives in service of our nation’
The UK suffered the second-highest variety of army deaths within the Afghanistan battle. The US noticed 2,461 deaths.
America’s allies suffered 1,160 deaths in the course of the battle – round a 3rd of the whole coalition deaths.
Defence Secretary John Healey stated: “NATO’s Article 5 has solely been triggered as soon as. The UK and NATO allies answered the US name. And greater than 450 British personnel misplaced their lives in Afghanistan.
“These British troops must be remembered for who they had been: heroes who gave their lives in service of our nation.”
Trump is ‘plainly wrongly’
Social care minister Stephen Kinnock additionally pointed to the truth that the one time NATO’s Article 5 clause – a name for allies to return to a member’s defence – had been activated “was to go to the help of america after 9/11”.
“And lots of, many British troopers and plenty of troopers from different European and NATO allies gave their lives in assist of American missions, American-led missions in locations like Afghanistan and Iraq,” he stated.
“I’m extremely happy with our armed forces. They’ve put their lives on the road for our nation. They’re the definition of honour and valour and patriotism – and anyone who seeks to criticise what they’ve completed and the sacrifices they make is plainly mistaken,” Mr Kinnock added.
‘We’ve all the time been there’
Dame Emily Thornberry MP, chair of the Commons Overseas Affairs Choose Committee, stated Mr Trump’s feedback had been “an insult” to the households of those that died and “a lot greater than a mistake”.
Talking on the BBC’s Query Time, Dame Emily stated: “How dare he say we weren’t on the frontline, how dare he.
“We’ve all the time been there at any time when the People have needed us; we now have all the time been there.”
In a social media put up, Liberal Democrat chief Sir Ed Davey MP stated: “Trump prevented army service 5 occasions.
“How dare he query their sacrifice. Farage and all of the others nonetheless fawning over Trump must be ashamed.”
Josh Babarinde, Liberal Democrat MP for Eastbourne, wrote in a put up on X: “[Donald Trump] can go f**ok himself.
“Anybody who mocks, demeans or minimises the sacrifices of British troops isn’t any pal of our nation.”
“The US is a historic pal of the UK’s – however not this man,” he stated, referring to Mr Trump.
Conservative Social gathering chief Kemi Badenoch stated the sacrifice of British and different NATO troops deserved respect, not denigration, including his feedback had been “full nonsense” which may weaken the NATO alliance.
“I spoke to folks of younger males who had misplaced their lives in Afghanistan, and I believe it’s a shame to denigrate their reminiscence like that,” she stated.
Mrs Badenoch stated there was “an excessive amount of careless discuss from President Trump” and “we mustn’t have these kind of throwaway feedback that truly weaken the sturdy relationship between these international locations within the alliance”.
‘I noticed the sacrifices made by British troopers’
Tory MP Ben Overweight-Jecty, who served in Afghanistan as a captain within the Royal Yorkshire Regiment, stated it was “unhappy to see our nation’s sacrifice, and that of our NATO companions, held so cheaply by the president of america”.
He stated: “I noticed first hand the sacrifices made by British troopers I served alongside in Sangin, the place we suffered horrific casualties, as did the US Marines the next yr.
“I do not consider US army personnel share the view of President Trump; his phrases do them a disservice as our closest army allies.”
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Former UK ambassador to Afghanistan Sir Nicholas Kay advised Sky Information the US president was “mistaken” and he “clearly doesn’t worth and admire NATO in the identical means he must”.
“The president is mistaken. He isn’t identified for his respect for different folks, and he’s not identified for his accuracy with information, and I am afraid that is one other instance,” he stated.
Final yr, US vice chairman JD Vance hit back at claims of “disrespecting” British troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, after suggesting a possible peacekeeping power in Ukraine can be “20,000 troops from some random nation that hasn’t fought a battle in 30 or 40 years”.
On the time, solely the UK and France had pledged troops to a possible peacekeeping power.
