Italy’s Meloni rebukes Trump remarks on NATO’s role in Afghanistan

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni connected Saturday called President Donald Trump's comments astir NATO allies’ relation successful Afghanistan "unacceptable," pushing backmost against suggestions they "stayed a small back" from the beforehand lines.

"Following the violent attacks of September 11, 2001, NATO activated Article 5 for the archetypal and lone clip successful its history: an bonzer enactment of solidarity toward the United States," Meloni wrote connected X.

"In that monolithic cognition against those who fueled terrorism, Italy responded instantly alongside its allies, deploying thousands of troops and taking afloat work for Regional Command West, 1 of the astir important operational areas of the full planetary mission," she said.

Meloni explained that Italy’s astir 2 decades of engagement successful Afghanistan came astatine a important cost, with 53 Italian soldiers killed and much than 700 wounded during combat operations, information missions and grooming programs for Afghan forces.

TRUMP SAYS US SHOULD HAVE TESTED NATO BY INVOKING ARTICLE 5 OVER BORDER SECURITY

Italian soldiers transportation the flag-draped coffin of Sergeant Michele Silvestri upon its accomplishment from Afghanistan astatine Ciampino Airport adjacent Rome connected March 26, 2012. (Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters)

"For this reason, statements that minimize the publication of NATO countries successful Afghanistan are unacceptable, particularly if they travel from an allied Nation," she added. 

"Italy and the United States are bound by a coagulated friendship, founded connected a shared assemblage of values and humanities collaboration, which is adjacent much indispensable successful the look of the galore existent challenges. But relationship requires respect, a cardinal information for continuing to guarantee the solidarity astatine the bosom of the Atlantic Alliance."

Trump has repeatedly questioned NATO allies’ reliability, including whether they would travel to the United States’ assistance if ever called upon.

NATO CHIEF PRAISES TRUMP AT DAVOS, SAYS HE FORCED EUROPE TO ‘STEP UP’ ON DEFENSE

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attends her yearly property league successful Rome connected Jan. 9, 2026. (Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)

He unsettled U.S. allies crossed Europe, including U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, aft downplaying their contributions successful Afghanistan during an interrogation with FOX Business big Maria Bartiromo astatine the World Economic Forum.

"We’ve ne'er needed them. We person ne'er truly asked thing of them," Trump said of NATO. "You know, they’ll accidental they sent immoderate troops to Afghanistan, oregon this and that. And they did, they stayed a small back, a small disconnected the beforehand lines."

Trump aboriginal appeared to soften his remarks successful a Saturday station connected Truth Social, praising the sacrifices of British troops successful Afghanistan.

"The GREAT and precise BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom volition ever beryllium with the United States of America! In Afghanistan, 457 died, galore were severely injured, and they were among the top of each warriors. It’s a enslaved excessively beardown to ever beryllium broken. The U.K. Military, with tremendous Heart and Soul, is 2nd to nary (except for the U.S.A.!). We emotion you all, and ever will!" helium wrote.

British soldiers with the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission get astatine the tract of an onslaught successful Kabul, Afghanistan, connected March 6, 2020. (Omar Sobhani/Reuters)

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Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., besides highlighted the broader planetary toll of the war, citing the sacrifices of 31 allied nations that fought alongside U.S. forces successful Afghanistan.

He thanked those countries for answering the telephone aft Sept. 11, noting that 159 troops from Canada, 90 from France, 62 from Germany, 44 from Poland and 43 from Denmark were among those killed successful the conflict.