Frederiksen's harsh words about Trump's NATO outburst

TT

Published 12.11

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen during a visit to Nuuk, Greenland. Photo: Rodrigo Freitas/NTB/TT

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is now reacting to US President Donald Trump's statement about

"It is unacceptable that the American president doubts the efforts of allied soldiers in Afghanistan," she writes on Facebook.

Trump said in a recent interview with Fox that the US "never needed" its NATO allies and that the troops that the countries contributed to the war in Afghanistan "stayed in the background, a little outside the front line."

"Many Danish soldiers lost their lives or were wounded. And Denmark is one of the NATO countries that has had the highest death toll per capita," Frederiksen continues.

44 Danish soldiers lost their lives in Afghanistan, writes Ritzau, referring to the Danish defense. 

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Mette Frederiksen's anger at Trump: "Unacceptable"

Jonathan Norberg

Updated 13.33 | Published 11.42

 

Mette Frederiksen surrounded by journalists in Nuuk. Photo: Mads Claus Rasmussen / Ritzau Scanpix

Donald Trump's relationship with Denmark continues to waver.

The president's words about NATO's role in Afghanistan have now caused Mette Frederiksen to react strongly.

"Many Danish soldiers lost their lives," she writes on social media.

Donald Trump's statement that the US did not need NATO in the war in Afghanistan continues to create anger.

In an interview with Fox News earlier this week, the president said that the US "never really needed" the defense alliance.

- They say they sent troops to Afghanistan. They did, they stayed a little behind, a little beyond the front line, said Trump.

 

Mette Frederiksen and Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen visit a fish market. Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka /AP/TT

On Saturday morning, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen pointed out that Denmark had one of the highest death rates per capita in the war.

"It is unacceptable that the American president questions the efforts of allied soldiers in Afghanistan. Many Danish soldiers lost their lives or were injured. And Denmark is one of the NATO countries that, calculated per capita, has had the highest losses," she writes in a post on Facebook.

 

Photo: Mads Claus Rasmussen / Ritzau Scanpix

A total of 43 Danish soldiers died in the war.

"My thoughts go out to the veterans, your families and the survivors, who in no way deserved this," writes Mette Frederiksen.

Trump's remarks have previously been met with harsh criticism from other NATO leaders, such as Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

- President Trump's statement is insulting and frankly disgusting, Keir Starmer told Sky News on Friday.