Trump sparks outrage with 'utterly ridiculous' claims about NATO forces in Afghanistan

A number of UK leaders have rallied together against Donald Trump today, after the US President falsely claimed NATO troops had avoided the frontline during the war in Afghanistan.

Speaking to Fox News on Thursday (22 Jan), the Republican slammed the predominantly-European group, claiming he's not sure his NATO allies would 'be there' for America, if he 'ever needed them'.

"We have never really asked anything of them," Trump, 79, bizarrely alleged. "They'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan - and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines."

As a reminder, America is the only NATO member to have ever invoked Article 5 of the group's long-standing agreement, which rules that 'an armed attack against one NATO member shall be considered an attack against them all'.

Over 400 Brits were killed in Afghanistan (Graham Meggitt-Pool/Getty Images)

This was done in 2001, in response to the 9/11 terror attacks. Two hit the World Trade Centre towers in New York, one hit the Pentagon in Washington D.C., whilst a fourth plummeted into a field in Pennsylvania, killing a total of 3,000 people.

The UK was amongst those to have jumped to the US defence - along with 51 other NATO and non-NATO countries - after four planes hijacked by Al-Qaeda members crashed into national landmarks.

What followed was a colossal war in Afghanistan, with huge numbers of fatalities on every side.

NATO's website claims several of its alliance members flew out to the Middle East, to 'ensure that the country would not again become a safe haven for terrorists to attack NATO member countries'.

What followed was a colossal war in Afghanistan, with huge numbers of fatalities on every side.

A total of 2,465 Americans died in conflict, alongside 457 Brits.

The British PM slammed Trump's remarks (Tolga Akmen/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Unsurprisingly, the Trump's controversial claims haven't gone down too well with other politicians - including the UK's Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, who branded them 'utterly ridiculous'.

Accusing the right-wing leader of 'diminishing' the often-fatal war effort of British troops, the Labour leader's spokesperson insisted Trump's verdict is 'wrong', and that the lives of those lost during battles in the Middle East 'will never be forgotten'.

The UK's social care minister, Stephen Kinnock seconded Starmer's sentiment, branding Trump's remarks as 'deeply disappointing'.

He went on to tell Sky News he doesn't see 'any basis' for the comments.

"There is no other way to say that, I don't really know why he said them," Kinnock continued. "And many, many British soldiers and many soldiers from other European and NATO allies gave their lives in support of American missions, American-led missions in places like Afghanistan and Iraq."

It's probably worth noting at this point that Trump has faced much criticism over the years for allegedly repeatedly dodging the draft for the Vietnam War.