Global backlash after Trump’s Afghanistan comments

Sunday 25 January 2026 - 12:00

By: Sahili Aya

Global backlash after Trump’s Afghanistan comments

Donald Trump’s recent remarks questioning the role of NATO allies in Afghanistan have sparked widespread criticism from countries across Europe and as far as Australia. The U.S. president had claimed in a Fox News interview that allied forces “stayed a bit away from the front lines” and suggested that the United States “never really needed them.”

Following the backlash, Trump attempted to soften his statements, highlighting the contributions of British soldiers and praising their service during the 20-year conflict. He tweeted that the “GREAT and VERY BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom” would always stand alongside the United States, acknowledging the 457 British casualties in Afghanistan.

Other countries, however, expressed strong disapproval. Australia, which deployed nearly 40,000 troops between 2001 and 2021, denounced Trump’s remarks as “totally unacceptable.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the courage of Australian forces, noting that they served alongside allies to defend democracy and national interests.

European leaders also reacted strongly. France, Denmark, Italy, and Poland condemned the comments, emphasizing the sacrifices of their troops. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the statements “shocking” and demanded respect for soldiers’ service. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk highlighted Poland’s fallen soldiers, recalling that U.S. officers had once acknowledged their heroism. Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the remarks as “intolerable,” and Danish veterans have organized a silent march to protest what they view as a betrayal of allied soldiers.

The controversy adds to existing diplomatic strains and underscores the sensitivity surrounding the recognition of allied contributions in long-term military operations.