Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen condemned US President Donald Trump for criticizing NATO allies’ role in Afghanistan. She called his comments “unacceptable” and said they hurt Danish veterans. Frederiksen made the remarks on Facebook Saturday.
The Danish Veterans Association expressed shock and said it was “at a loss for words.” The group confirmed plans for a silent march in Copenhagen on January 31 to protest Trump’s statements. Denmark suffered some of the highest losses per capita among NATO members during the Afghanistan mission.
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Frederiksen stressed that Denmark has always supported the United States in global crises. Over the years, about 12,000 Danish soldiers and civilians served in Afghanistan, risking their lives alongside other NATO forces.
Trump’s Thursday Fox News interview claimed NATO allies “stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.” The remarks also drew criticism from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who called them “insulting and appalling” given the losses suffered by UK soldiers.
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The White House defended Trump. Spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said the US “has done more for NATO than any other country in the alliance combined,” rejecting Starmer’s criticism. The controversy has sparked international debate on NATO’s contributions.