A transatlantic diplomatic crisis has erupted following controversial remarks by former US President Donald Trump regarding NATO allies’ contributions in Afghanistan. The situation intensified as European leaders issued sharp rebukes against what they characterized as deeply offensive comments questioning allied military sacrifices.
Trump initially provoked international condemnation during a Fox News interview aired Thursday, suggesting NATO forces remained cautious during Afghan operations and implying conditional US support for alliance members. These assertions triggered immediate backlash across European capitals.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer led the criticism, labeling Trump’s statements “appalling” and expressing concern for affected military families. In an apparent partial reversal, Trump subsequently praised UK forces on his Truth Social platform Saturday, describing British soldiers as “among the greatest of all warriors” and emphasizing their “bond too strong to ever be broken” with America.
This qualified apology failed to placate other NATO members. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen declared Trump’s comments “unacceptable” on Facebook, highlighting Denmark’s significant per capita losses in Afghanistan. French President Emmanuel Macron’s office dismissed the remarks as “unworthy of response,” instead emphasizing gratitude to fallen soldiers’ families.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani honored Italy’s 53 casualties, while German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius underscored Germany’s readiness to support US operations despite paying a “heavy price.” The Danish Veterans’ Association announced plans for a silent protest march in Copenhagen on January 31, stating members were “at a loss for words” over Trump’s claims.
The controversy emerges against a backdrop of recent US-Danish tensions regarding Trump’s expressed interest in purchasing Greenland, though those concerns appeared resolved earlier last week when the former president withdrew threatened tariffs on European goods.