German defense minister demands Trump apology over NATO comments

Monday 26 January 2026 - 13:20

By: Dakir Madiha

German defense minister demands Trump apology over NATO comments

President Donald Trump's claim that NATO allies "stayed a bit back, a bit off the front lines" during the Afghanistan war has drawn sharp rebukes from European leaders, military veterans, and NATO royals. Trump made the remarks in a Thursday Fox Business Network interview at the Davos World Economic Forum, asserting the United States never truly needed its NATO partners. He added that while allies sent troops to Afghanistan, they remained somewhat removed from frontline action.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer led the backlash, calling Trump's words "insulting and frankly outrageous." "If I had made such a gaffe, I would certainly apologize," Starmer said Friday. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni responded forcefully, noting Italy deployed thousands of soldiers and led the tough Regional Command West. "Over nearly two decades of commitment, our nation paid a price that cannot be disputed," she wrote, referencing 53 Italian soldiers killed and over 700 wounded.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius demanded public apologies Sunday evening on public broadcaster ARD. "This is simply unacceptable and disrespectful to speak of allied deaths this way," he said, labeling the comments "indecent." Pistorius plans to raise the issue with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, adding that apologies would signal decency, respect, and clarity. Prince Harry, who served two tours in Afghanistan, issued a statement defending NATO forces. "In 2001, NATO invoked Article 5 for the first and only time in its history," he noted. "I served there. I made lifelong friends. And I lost friends."

Historical records directly contradict Trump's portrayal. The September 11 attacks prompted NATO's sole invocation of its collective defense Article 5, leading allied forces to fight alongside US troops in Afghanistan for two decades. Roughly 3,500 coalition soldiers died, including about 2,456 Americans and 457 British troops. Canada lost 158, France 90, Germany 59, Italy 53, and Denmark 44, yielding per capita fatality rates comparable to the United States. British and Danish forces initially deployed to Taliban stronghold Helmand province before US reinforcements arrived in 2008, suffering most losses there.

Following a Saturday call with Starmer, Trump posted on Truth Social praising British troops as "among the greatest warriors of all time" and acknowledging 457 deaths, but offered no apology and ignored other allies' sacrifices. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese deemed the remarks "unacceptable," highlighting 47 Australian deaths and over 260 wounded. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre called them "disrespectful," stating that fallen soldiers, their families, and Afghanistan veterans deserve truthful respect. The White House initially backed Trump, with spokesperson Taylor Rogers asserting, "President Trump is absolutely right, no other NATO nation contributed as much as the United States."