The Duke of Sussex has called for the sacrifices of NATO troops to be spoken about truthfully and with respect, after the US president claimed allies stayed a little back from the front lines in Afghanistan.
I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there, Prince Harry, who was twice deployed to the country, said on Friday as he paid tribute to NATO troops killed in the conflict, including 457 UK service personnel.
The prince was reacting to controversial comments made by Donald Trump in an interview, which have drawn condemnation from international allies, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who labeled them insulting and frankly appalling.
Harry noted that NATO's invocation of Article 5 in the wake of the 9/11 attacks marked a commitment from allied nations to support the US operation in Afghanistan. He emphasized that thousands of lives were altered forever through the conflict. 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, he remarked.
The duke's comments were made in the context of Trump’s dismissive remarks about allied military involvement, suggesting they were not as committed as American troops. His statements led to backlash across political lines within the UK and calls from various leaders, including military veterans and families of fallen soldiers, for Trump to apologize.
International responses have also emerged, with leaders like Poland's foreign minister and Canada's Minister of National Defence reiterating their nations' heavy sacrifices in Afghanistan. The ramifications of Trump's comments have sparked discussions about the historical alliances and shared sacrifices of the NATO forces.
