UK politicians have accused Trump of avoiding army service through the Vietnam Warfare.
Revealed On 23 Jan 2026
United States President Donald Trump has drawn criticism from British politicians after claiming that NATO forces stayed away from the entrance line through the struggle in Afghanistan.
The US president made the remarks in an interview with Fox Information, a US broadcaster, the place he once more questioned the worth of the army alliance and steered that NATO allies wouldn’t come to Washington’s support if requested.
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Talking on Thursday, Trump mentioned the US had “by no means wanted” NATO and claimed allied forces remained “slightly off the entrance strains” through the Afghanistan battle.
The feedback prompted a backlash throughout the UK political spectrum, with critics pointing to the size of NATO casualties through the 20-year struggle and elevating questions on Trump’s personal army document.
Allies’ losses
The UK misplaced 457 service personnel in Afghanistan. Greater than 150 Canadian troopers have been killed, together with 90 French troopers. Denmark misplaced 44 troopers – one of many highest per-capita demise charges amongst NATO members – regardless of the nation just lately dealing with continued stress from Trump to promote its semi-autonomous territory of Greenland to the US.
Stephen Kinnock, a junior British minister, described Trump’s remarks as “deeply disappointing” and mentioned European forces had paid a heavy worth whereas backing US-led operations.
“Many, many British troopers and lots of troopers from different European NATO allies gave their lives in assist of American-led missions in locations like Afghanistan and Iraq,” Kinnock informed the UK’s Sky Information broadcaster on Friday.
“I believe anyone who seeks to criticise what [our armed forces] have carried out and the sacrifices that they make is plainly incorrect,” he added.
‘How dare he’
Kinnock additionally famous that the US stays the one NATO member to have invoked Article 5, the alliance’s collective-defence clause, following the September 11, 2001 assaults, prompting allies to rally behind Washington.
He mentioned NATO was essentially the most profitable worldwide safety alliance “within the historical past of the world”, with the US and its European companions, together with the UK, taking part in a central function.
Different UK politicians highlighted Trump’s historical past of avoiding army service through the Vietnam Warfare. Trump acquired a number of draft deferments, together with one primarily based on a analysis of bone spurs in his heels – a medical declare that has beforehand been questioned.
“Trump averted army service 5 occasions,” Ed Davey, chief of the UK’s Liberal Democrats, wrote on X. “How dare he query their sacrifice.”
