Donald Trump praises Britain’s ‘brave soldiers’ after sparking outrage

Donald Trump has praised the ‘very brave’ British soldiers serving in Afghanistan after his claim that NATO soldiers ‘stayed off the front line’ sparked outrage

Donald Trump has praised the ‘very brave’ British soldiers serving in Afghanistan after his claim that NATO soldiers ‘stayed off the front line’ sparked outrage.

The US president said on Truth Social that British soldiers were “among the greatest of all combatants” as he acknowledged the 457 members of the armed forces who died and many who were “severely injured” during the brutal conflict.

He wrote: “The GREAT and very BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America. It is a bond too strong to ever be broken. The British Army, with enormous heart and soul, is second to none (except for the USA!). We love you all, and always will! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

Trump’s apparent about-face comes after he told Fox News on Thursday that he was not “confident” that NATO “would be there if we ever needed them.” He added: “We never needed them. They’ll say they sent some troops into Afghanistan… and they did, they stayed a little bit behind, a little bit off the front line.”

Sir Keir Starmer called Trump’s comments ‘offensive and downright appalling’ and suggested he should apologise. “I will never forget their courage, their bravery and the sacrifice they made for their country,” the prime minister said on Friday. “There are also many injured people, some with life-changing injuries.

“And so I find President Trump’s comments offensive and downright appalling, and I am not surprised that they have caused so much pain to the loved ones of those who have been killed or injured.”

Asked whether he would call on the US president to apologise, Starmer said: “If I had misspoken in that way or said those words, I would certainly apologise.” But the Prime Minister stressed the importance of the ‘very close’ relationship with the US to British security, adding: ‘It is because of that relationship that we have fought alongside the Americans for our values ​​in Afghanistan. And it was in that context that people lost their lives or suffered terrible injuries, fighting for freedom, fighting with our allies for what we believe in.”

A total of 3,486 NATO troops have been killed in the twenty-year conflict in Afghanistan, including 2,461 American soldiers. Canada recorded 165 deaths, including civilians.