1,160 reasons why Donald Trump’s attack on allies is completely wrong | Politics | News

The Afghanistan war has killed 1,160 soldiers and other personnel from America’s allies, including the United Kingdom. Their sacrifices show why Donald Trump’s claim that other countries remain “off the front lines” is actually false and offensive. Here are the casualty figures of the countries fighting on the side of the USA:

England 457
Canada 159
France 90
Germany 62
Italy 53
Poland 44
Denmark 43

Australia 41
Spain 35
Georgia 32
Romania 27
Netherlands 25
Türkiye 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 had more deaths than any other country, with 2,461 deaths. The exact number may vary depending on what time period is considered and whether non-military personnel such as CIA officers are included.

The United States had 7.96 deaths per million people in its population. For England the figure was 7.25 per million.

2,000 British military and civilian personnel were also injured in the operation. According to the National Army Museum, at the height of the conflict there were 137 UK bases and around 9,500 British troops in Helmand Province alone.

Donald Trump Downing Street said it was “wrong” to reduce the role of NATO and British troops in Afghanistan after the US president claimed allies were staying away from the front line of the conflict.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman condemned Mr Trump’s remarks, saying UK forces were serving 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 the comments in an interview with Fox News and reiterated his suggestion that NATO would not support America if asked.

He said: “We never needed them.

“They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan… and they did, they stayed behind a little bit, a little bit from the front lines.”

His remarks sparked condemnation from across the political spectrum; Critics have pointed out both the number of UK deaths in Afghanistan and Mr Trump’s avoidance of military service in Vietnam.

The only time NATO’s mutual defense arrangement was invoked was after the September 11 terrorist attack on the United States in 2001, when allies assisted American forces in response to atrocities by Al Qaeda.

Al Carns, the defense minister and former commando who served five tours of duty in Afghanistan and was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery, said Mr Trump’s comments were “ridiculous”.

The former Royal Marines colonel, without mentioning Mr Trump by name, said: “In Afghanistan, frankly, this is utterly ridiculous. “Many brave and honorable service personnel from many countries have fought on the front line. Many have fought beyond that.

“I served five missions in Afghanistan with mostly American colleagues. We shed blood, sweat and tears together. Not everyone came home.

“I think these are fire-forged ties that protect the United States and our shared interests, but actually protect democracy in general.”

Diane Dernie, whose son Ben Parkinson was horribly injured when an Army Land Rover hit a mine near Musa Qala in 2006, said the US president’s comments were the “greatest insult” and called on Sir Keir Starmer to stand up to Mr Trump.

Mr Parkinson, a paratrooper from Doncaster, is widely regarded as the most seriously injured British soldier to survive the war.

The explosion caused the former spear grenadier from 7 Para RHA to have both legs amputated, a twisted spine and brain damage.

His mother, Miss Dernie, said: “I can assure you that the Taliban did not plant IEDs (improvised explosive devices) miles from the front line.”

He said Sir Keir “must defend his own armed forces and absolutely refute what Donald Trump is saying”.

“Call him,” he said.