Donald Trump insulted America’s allies (Image: Getty)
The Afghanistan war claimed the lives 1,160 soldiers and other personnel from America’s allies, including the UK. Their sacrifice shows why Donald Trump’s claim that other countries stayed “off the frontline” is factually wrong and offensive. Here are the casualty figures for nations that fought alongside the US:
UK 457
Canada 159
France 90
Germany 62
Italy 53
Poland 44
Denmark 43
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Australia 41
Spain 35
Georgia 32
Romania 27
Netherlands 25
Turkey 15
Czech Republic 14
New Zealand 10
Norway 10
Estonia 9
Hungary 7
Sweden 5
Latvia 4
Slovakia 3
Finland 2
Jordan 2
Portugal 2
South Korea 2
Albania 2
Belgium 1
Bulgaria 1
Croatia 1
Lithuania 1
Montenegro 1
America suffered more deaths than other country, with 2,461 killed. The precise number can vary depending on which time period is considered and whether non-military staff such as CIA operatives are included.
The US suffered 7.96 deaths per million people in its population. For the UK the figure was 7.25 per million.
An additional 2,000 British military and civilian personnel were wounded in action. At the peak of the conflict there were 137 UK bases and around 9,500 British troops in Helmand Province alone, according to the National Army Museum.
Donald Trump was “wrong” to diminish the role of Nato and British troops in Afghanistan, Downing Street has said after the US president claimed allies stayed away from the front line in the conflict.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman condemned Mr Trump’s remarks, saying UK forces had served alongside the US and Nato in “sustained combat operations”.
He added: “We are incredibly proud of our armed forces and their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Mr Trump made his comments in an interview with Fox News in which he reiterated his suggestion that Nato would not support America if asked.
He said: “We’ve never needed them.
“They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan… and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.”
His remarks drew condemnation from across the political spectrum, with critics pointing to both the number of UK deaths in Afghanistan and highlighting Mr Trump’s avoidance of military service in Vietnam.
The only time Nato’s mutual defence arrangement has been invoked was after the September 11 terrorist attack on the US in 2001, when allies aided American forces in response to the atrocities by al Qaida.
Defence minister and former commando Al Carns, who served five tours in Afghanistan and was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry, said Mr Trump’s comments were “ridiculous”.
The former Royal Marines colonel, without referring to Mr Trump by name, said: “On Afghanistan, frankly, this is utterly ridiculous. Many courageous and honourable service personnel from many nations fought on the front line. Many fought way beyond it.
“I served five tours in Afghanistan, many alongside my American colleagues. We shed blood, sweat and tears together. Not everybody came home.
“These are bonds, I think, forged in fire, protecting the US, our shared interests, but actually protecting democracy overall.”
Diane Dernie, whose son Ben Parkinson suffered horrific injuries when an Army Land Rover hit a mine near Musa Qala in 2006, said the US president’s comments were “the ultimate insult” and called on Sir Keir Starmer to stand up to Mr Trump over them.
Paratrooper Mr Parkinson, from Doncaster, is widely viewed as the most severely injured British soldier to have survived the war.
The blast left the former lance bombardier in 7 Para RHA with both legs amputated, a twisted spine and brain damage.
His mother Mrs Dernie said: “I can assure you, the Taliban didn’t plant IEDs (improvised explosive devices) miles and miles back from the front line.”
She said Sir Keir has “got to stand up for his own armed forces and he’s got to absolutely refute what Donald Trump said”.
“Call him out,” she said.