Italian Prime Minister Criticizes Trump’s Remarks on NATO Role in Afghanistan
ISTANBUL | 26 January 2026
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday described comments by US President Donald Trump about NATO’s role in Afghanistan as “unacceptable,” stressing that they undermine the alliance’s shared sacrifices.
Writing on social media platform X, Meloni said remarks that minimize the contribution of NATO allies in Afghanistan are inappropriate, particularly when they come from a partner country.
She said the Italian government reacted with surprise to Trump’s comments made on Thursday, in which he claimed that NATO forces remained largely away from front-line combat during the conflict.
Italy Defends NATO Solidarity
Meloni recalled that following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, NATO invoked Article 5—its collective defense clause—for the first and only time in its history. She described the decision as an extraordinary act of solidarity with the United States.
She emphasized that Italy made a significant and unquestionable contribution to the Afghanistan mission. According to Meloni, 53 Italian soldiers were killed and more than 700 were wounded during the operation.
Call for Mutual Respect Among Allies
Meloni stressed that Italy and the United States share a strong and historic partnership, rooted in common values and long-standing cooperation.
However, she added that mutual respect remains essential to preserving unity within NATO. “Friendship requires respect,” she wrote, calling it a fundamental condition for maintaining the solidarity that lies at the core of the Atlantic Alliance.
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