Australian Prime Minister Condemns Trump’s Remarks on NATO Troops in Afghanistan
ISTANBUL | 25 January 2026 (Updated 25 January 2026)
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday described comments by US President Donald Trump that belittled NATO troops’ role in Afghanistan as “not acceptable,” saying they risk causing pain to the families of fallen soldiers.
Speaking in a televised interview, Albanese said Trump had later acknowledged the contribution of allied forces. However, he stressed that the initial remarks had already caused harm.
Respect for Fallen Australian Soldiers
Albanese noted that 47 Australian soldiers lost their lives in Afghanistan, while more than 260 were wounded during the conflict.
He said the families of those killed would feel deeply hurt by any suggestion that allied troops avoided combat. “Those families deserve our full respect and admiration,” he said, praising the courage of more than 40,000 Australians who served in Afghanistan over two decades.
Trump last week claimed that after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, NATO allies sent only limited forces to Afghanistan and that many remained away from the front lines.
Trump’s Wider Criticism of NATO
In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Trump said of NATO allies, “We’ve never needed them,” while arguing that US support for Europe should involve greater burden-sharing.
Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO and questioned the commitment of long-standing US partners. In an apparent effort to ease tensions, he later praised British troops in a post on his Truth Social platform.
Despite this, his comments drew criticism from several allied nations, including Poland, Norway, Denmark, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
Australia Defends Allied Unity
Albanese rejected Trump’s claims, saying Australian forces served on the front lines alongside allies to defend democracy, freedom, and national interests.
He recalled that the aftermath of the September 11 attacks marked the only time NATO invoked Article 5, leading member states to deploy thousands of troops to Afghanistan in support of the United States.
More than 39,000 Australian personnel served in Afghanistan over 20 years, before Australia withdrew its forces in 2021.
In a separate development, Albanese noted that in 2024, Australia revoked distinguished service medals from several military officers following findings related to war crimes committed during the Afghanistan mission.
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