Donald Trump's assertion that Nato troops were 'a little off the front lines' during the Afghanistan conflict is 'disappointing', according to UK Health and Social Care Minister Stephen Kinnock. The UK, alongside other allies, has always supported US-led missions, Kinnock emphasized, reflecting on the 457 British service personnel who lost their lives in Afghanistan.
Speaking on various media platforms, Kinnock honored the courage and professionalism of Britain's armed forces, expressing his disappointment with Trump's comments. Former Conservative soldier, MP Ben Obese-Jecty, decried the remarks, saddened by what he viewed as a dismissal of shared sacrifices.
Trump's comments on Fox News, where he questioned Nato's utility and involvement, stirred widespread backlash. Labour MP Emily Thornberry called the remarks 'an absolute insult', criticizing Trump as a leader lacking military experience and unfairly undermining Nato.
Conservative officials and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey echoed these sentiments. Thornberry and others emphasized the strong historical and strategic UK-US alliance, pointing to recent security discussions as evidence of its importance.
Dutch officials and Nato representations, including Dutch foreign minister David van Weel, also rejected Trump's claims, affirming the European commitment to the Afghan mission and the accuracy of historical accounts.