OTTAWA — In response to comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump that downplayed the contributions of NATO troops, including Canadian soldiers, former Armed Forces members and Liberal cabinet ministers in Canada have come forward to defend the sacrifices made during the Afghanistan war.
In an interview on Thursday, Trump reiterated his long-standing grievances with NATO allies, questioning the commitment of non-U.S. forces. He stated, “We’ve never needed them, we have never really asked anything of them,” adding that while NATO allies may claim to have sent troops to Afghanistan, many remained “a little back, a little off the front lines.”
Culture Minister Marc Miller, who served as a reservist in the Canadian Armed Forces during the 1990s, vehemently rejected Trump’s assertions. Speaking at a Liberal cabinet retreat in Quebec City, Miller emphasized that Canadians made “great sacrifices” in Afghanistan and labeled Trump’s comments as “false.” Between 2001 and 2014, around 40,000 members of the Canadian Armed Forces were deployed to Afghanistan, during which 158 Canadian soldiers lost their lives as part of the international mission.
Moreover, Defence Minister David McGuinty stressed the active role of the Canadian Armed Forces, stating, “There was no standing back. Only standing side by side, together on the front lines with our allies.” McGuinty highlighted that Canadian troops were on the ground in Afghanistan from the onset and played crucial roles, including leading combat operations in Kandahar.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was expected to address reporters at the conclusion of the cabinet retreat, issued a statement via his office later that day. His office referenced the 14 soldiers from the Royal 22nd Regiment who were killed in Afghanistan, commending their courage and the contributions of all Canadians who served in the mission. The Van Doos regiment exemplified the bravery, service, and sacrifice seen across the Canadian Armed Forces during the operations.
Carney's statement underscored that “this service and their sacrifice can never be diminished,” honoring the nearly 40,000 Canadian military personnel who participated in the war over the 13-year period.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined the conversation in the wake of Trump's remarks. He described the U.S. President's comments as “insulting, and frankly, appalling,” reaffirming the contributions made by allies in Afghanistan.
The war in Afghanistan was initiated following the September 11 attacks in 2001, which prompted the United States to invoke Article 5 of NATO. This article stipulates that an attack against one member is an attack against all, marking the first time it was applied in NATO’s history. Trump has frequently downplayed NATO's importance in contemporary global politics and questioned the reliability of allies in times of conflict.
During the cabinet retreat on Friday, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne expressed pride in the Canadian Armed Forces' contributions in Afghanistan, asserting the high regard in which Canadian troops are held among NATO allies. Champagne asserted, “We don’t need comments from anyone else to know the strength of our Armed Forces,” reiterating that the actions and sacrifices of Canadian soldiers are widely recognized.
Additionally, Conservative MP Michael Barrett, who also has a background in the Canadian Armed Forces, took to social media to emphasize the significance of Canadian troops who served and fell in Afghanistan alongside their U.S. counterparts. In a post on the social media platform X, he invited U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra and the U.S. Consulate in Toronto to visit Parliament Hill and read from the Books of Remembrance, which honor every Canadian soldier lost in service to the nation.
