Donald Trump has sparked fresh outrage in the UK after saying NATO troops stayed 'a little off the front lines' during the war in Afghanistan.
Labour MP Emily Thornberry, the chair of the foreign affairs committee, called it an 'absolute insult' to the 457 British service personnel killed in the conflict, while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: 'How dare he question their sacrifice?'
Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who served in Afghanistan, expressed that it was 'sad to see our nation's sacrifice, and that of our NATO partners, held so cheaply.'
The UK was among several allies to join the US in Afghanistan from 2001, after it invoked NATO's collective security clause following the 9/11 terror attacks.
The US president mentioned in an interview with Fox News that he was 'not sure' the military alliance would be there for America 'if we ever needed them'. He added, 'They'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan, and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.'
Thornberry told the BBC's Question Time that Trump's remarks were 'much more than a mistake' and amounted to an 'absolute insult'. She criticized Trump's lack of experience, stating he had 'never seen any action' yet now served as 'commander in chief.'
Comments from Thornberry and other MPs highlight a strong sentiment that the sacrifices of UK forces and NATO allies should never be questioned, reinforcing the deep ties shared amidst military engagements.
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