Reference News Network, January 25 report: According to EFE news agency, January 24, Italian Prime Minister Meloni said on January 24 that U.S. President Trump's remarks that belittled NATO's role in Afghanistan were "unacceptable," especially since the comments came from a leader of an allied country.
The report said that Meloni stated in a statement: "Italy and the United States have formed a strong friendship based on shared values and deep historical cooperation... but the maintenance of friendship requires respect, which is the basic prerequisite for continuing to safeguard the core unity of the Atlantic Alliance."
On January 22, during an interview on Fox News in the United States, Trump belittled the role of NATO allies during the Afghan war from 2001 to 2021, claiming that the troops deployed by these countries always "stayed at a distance from the front lines."
Trump said: "We never really needed them. Some might say they sent some troops to Afghanistan... they did, but always remained behind the lines, staying at a distance from the front lines." He also claimed that NATO would not come to the aid of the U.S. in times of crisis.
The Italian government expressed "shock" at Trump's remarks.
In her statement, Meloni said: "In that large-scale military operation against supporters of terrorism, Italy and other allies immediately responded by sending thousands of soldiers to Afghanistan and taking responsibility for the command of the Western Regional Command, one of the most important operational areas of the military campaign."
Meloni said that Italy paid an "undoubtedly high price" in Afghanistan: 53 soldiers died in combat, security missions or Afghan force training programs, and more than 700 others were injured. (Translated by Han Chao)
Original: toutiao.com/article/7599167395399303734/
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