The Duke of Sussex, who served two tours in Afghanistan after NATO invoked Article 5, made an emotional appeal to remember the sacrifices made by allies who ‘answered the call’ in aid of the US
Prince Harry has angrily hit out at Donald Trump following his assertions this week that NATO troops didn’t fight on the frontlines in Afghanistan.
The Duke of Sussex, a veteran who saw active service in Afghanistan after Article 5 was invoked, issued a heartfelt plea to honour the sacrifices of allies who “answered the call” in support of the US. His remarks followed statements from the President – a known draft-dodger – which have been labelled “insulting and frankly appalling”.
The Duke praised Britain’s and other countries’ military personnel after they fought on the frontlines in a conflict he described as having altered lives “forever”.
He said: “In 2001, NATO invoked Article 5 for the first-and only-time in history. It meant that every allied nation was obliged to stand with the United States in Afghanistan, in pursuit of our shared security. Allies answered that call. I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there. The United Kingdom alone had 457 service personnel killed.
“Thousands of lives were changed forever. Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters. Children were left without a parent. Families are left carrying the cost.”, reports the Mirror.
“Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect, as we all remain united and loyal to the defence of diplomacy and peace.”
The Royal completed two deployments in Afghanistan, initially spending 10 weeks in Helmand Province during 2007 and 2008, before deploying again in 2012 for 20 weeks with the Army Air Corps. His battlefield experience motivated him to establish the Invictus Games tournament in 2014, where he continues as an engaged patron.
He issued his statement following the US President’s disparagement of NATO forces deployed to Afghanistan, alleging they had served “a little off the frontlines”. He declared: “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 frontlines.”
Following 9/11, 130,000 coalition forces from the alliance were dispatched to the Middle East, with 3,500 perishing on the frontlines – 1,000 more than the 2,461 Americans who tragically gave their lives serving their nation.
The remarks prompted an unusual criticism from key Trump supporter Keir Starmer, who departed from his typical alignment with the US President to denounce them as “insulting and frankly appalling”. In his own statement, he suggested that Trump – who has repeatedly slurred military personnel, including American service members he branded “suckers” – should offer an apology for his comments.
He declared this afternoon: “I consider President Trump’s remarks to be insulting and frankly, appalling. And I’m not surprised they’ve caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured.”
