US President Trump praises UK troops amidst controversy over Afghanistan comments

US President Donald Trump has expressed praise for UK soldiers in response to criticism from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer over comments made about European troops’ involvement in the war in Afghanistan.

On Saturday, Trump posted on social media a message acknowledging the sacrifices of 457 UK soldiers who died in Afghanistan, describing them as “among the greatest of all warriors.” He also stated that the bond between the US and UK is “too strong to ever be broken.”

Earlier this week, Starmer criticized Trump’s comments to Fox News, calling them “insulting” and “appalling.” When asked if he would demand an apology from Trump, Starmer said that if he had made similar remarks, he would apologize.

Trump’s response came after a meeting with Starmer on Saturday, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office. The statement noted that Starmer had previously praised the bravery and heroism of British and American soldiers who fought together in Afghanistan.

Other European leaders have also expressed disappointment at Trump’s remarks. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and French President Emmanuel Macron all reacted sharply to Trump’s comments on Saturday.

The war in Afghanistan has resulted in the loss of thousands of lives from multiple countries, including the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, and others. The conflict began in 2001 and has continued for nearly two decades.

Source: Al Jazeera