Overview
- President Donald Trump told Fox News that NATO allies in Afghanistan stayed back from the front, minimizing their role in the war.
- Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the remarks unacceptable and cited Italy’s record of 53 dead and more than 700 wounded, noting Italy’s command of Regional Command West after NATO invoked Article 5.
- Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said he will answer through formal institutional acts; Italian outlets, citing TgLa7, reported planned letters to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, which the ministry had not confirmed as of Jan. 26.
- Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani honored the fallen and wounded, while Italian media reported likely outreach to families of the 53 soldiers killed during the mission.
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Trump’s comments; Trump later posted praise for British troops, as European leaders continued to demand respect for allied sacrifices.