Donald Trump has made Australian veterans and politicians furious. His comments about NATO forces that brought this storm of controversy down upon his head came from a recent televised appearance on Fox News Channel. Speaking on NATO’s mutual defense clause and the military alliance during the last presidential debate, Trump said that allied troops “didn’t go to the front” in Afghanistan. This statement drew the ire of state and local governments, environmental groups, and the public.
During the interview, Trump expressed skepticism about NATO’s ability to defend the United States in times of threat, stating he was “not sure” if the alliance would meet the “ultimate test.” You can imagine how surprised many were by his remarks. This response was all the more jarring in light of the enormous sacrifices made by allied forces in Afghanistan, where forty-seven Australian service personnel were killed and thousands more served in Australia’s longest ever war.
Keir Starmer, leader of the UK’s Labour Party, called Trump’s remarks “insulting and frankly appalling.” He pointed out that these comments completely negate the hard work and sacrifice of thousands of troops from our allied countries. Starmer went on to argue that Trump owed the American people an apology for his comments.
Jennifer Parker, a military spouse and member of the national steering committee of the nonpartisan organization VoteVets, agreed, calling Trump’s comments “deeply disrespectful.” She said that his claims are not representative of how the U.S. military conducts itself, or its values and professionalism.
“That makes these remarks all the more troubling. An apology and acknowledgment of allied sacrifice is warranted.” – Jennifer Parker
Peter Tinley, who served as the deputy commander of the special forces task group deployed to Afghanistan, articulated the feelings of many veterans when he stated, “We were the lead force for General James Mattis, who went on to be Trump’s own Secretary of Defence in his first administration … and then we continued to participate in the longest continuous operation in the history of Australia.” Tinley underscored the need for reassurance from allies, saying, “We need reassurance that they’re not going to run away from the fight when they’ve asked us to do so much.”
Australian politicians of all parties have taken great offense at Trump’s comments, noting their military’s commitment to shared sacrifice on the part of their service members. Formerly a member of the House, Andrew Hastie, an early and previously vocal critic, deemed Trump’s comments unfounded and detrimental to important diplomatic ties.
A government spokesperson reaffirmed the importance of acknowledging the contributions made by Australian Defence Force personnel in Afghanistan, stating, “Australian Defence Force personnel in Afghanistan made a very significant contribution, and we continue to honour their bravery and sacrifice.”
Here’s the problem—what Trump’s comments allude to in the first place is NATO’s mutual defense clause. This clause was last triggered after the 9/11 attacks. This provision makes clear that if one member state is attacked, it is considered an attack on all members. It shows just how deep the solidarity in our alliance runs.
Tinley went further, arguing that Trump needs to apologize. He thinks that’s the least they could come up with, especially when you consider the impact these claims have on veterans and their families. He called on Americans to recognize that such statements can have enduring consequences on future support for military coalitions and multinational diplomacy.