The US president made his comments in an interview with Fox News in which he reiterated his suggestion that Nato would not support America if asked.
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”.
Pointing to the 457 British deaths in Afghanistan and the “many hundreds” more who were wounded, 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”.
