German Defense Minister responds to Trump’s insult to German soldiers
Remarks made by US President Donald Trump have sparked widespread outrage in Germany and Europe, after he downplayed the role of German and European soldiers during the war in Afghanistan, describing their participation as limited and far from the front lines.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius responded strongly to these statements, asserting that the German military had heeded the call of US allies following the September 11, 2001 attacks, and participated in the international mission to fight Islamic terrorism.
He said Germany was deeply grateful to its soldiers for their courage and high professional performance.
Speaking at the Davos forum and then in an interview with Fox News, Trump said he wasn’t sure his allies would stand by the United States when needed, citing the war in Afghanistan as an example of what he saw as weakness in NATO involvement, adding sarcastically that the forces of some countries “stayed behind and away from the fronts”.
Pistorius recalled the facts on the ground, noting that German soldiers had been involved in Afghanistan for 19 years, and that Germany had paid a heavy price in the death of 59 soldiers and three policemen, in addition to a large number of wounded who are still suffering from physical and psychological effects, as well as the suffering of their families who will stay with them for life.
He stressed that the courage of German soldiers will continue to be appreciated and respected, no matter how many try to question it.
Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder said German soldiers risked their lives, and many paid a heavy price, stressing that they had done their duty in defense of their country, democracy and peace, and deserved the highest degree of respect.
In angry political reactions, Christian Union officials said Trump’s remarks were an insult to slain soldiers and their families, and poisoned transatlantic relations, calling for a reduction in European dependence on the United States and a boost to self-defense capabilities.
German military officials also expressed surprise at Trump’s remarks, stressing that Germany’s military readiness has always been appreciated by the US side, and that NATO’s strength lies in its unity and solidarity.
At the international level, Trump’s remarks were widely condemned, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling them “humiliating and appalling”, while Poland stressed that the sacrifices of its soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq shouldn’t be underestimated, stressing that history cannot be falsified or denied the blood of soldiers who fell in those wars.
