The Duke of Sussex has called for the sacrifices of NATO troops to be spoken about truthfully and with respect, after the US president claimed allies stayed a little back from the front lines in Afghanistan.
I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there, Prince Harry, who was twice deployed to the country, said on Friday as he paid tribute to NATO troops killed in the conflict, including 457 UK service personnel.
The prince was reacting to controversial comments made by Donald Trump in an interview on Thursday.
Trump's words have drawn condemnation from international allies, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calling them insulting and frankly appalling.
The UK and other nations joined the US in Afghanistan after NATO's collective security clause was invoked following the 9/11 attacks. Prince Harry said: In 2001, NATO invoked Article 5 for the first - and only - time in history. It meant that every allied nation was obliged to stand with the United States in Afghanistan, in pursuit of our shared security. Allies answered that call.
He added: Thousands of lives were changed forever. Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters. Children were left without a parent. Families are left carrying the cost.
Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect, as we all remain united and loyal to the defence of diplomacy and peace.
The duke's comments follow Trump's Fox News interview in which he said: We've never needed them. We have never really asked anything of them.
They'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan... and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.
The president also said he was not sure the military alliance would be there for the US if we ever needed them.
In the UK, Trump's remarks were condemned across the UK's political divide. Shortly before the prince's statement, Sir Keir gave his own reaction saying if he himself had misspoken in that way he would certainly apologise.
Sir Keir said: I will never forget their courage, their bravery and the sacrifice they made for their country.
Outside the UK, ministers from foreign governments also criticised Trump's remarks, with Poland's foreign minister stating that no one has the right to mock the service of their soldiers.
The discussion around Trump's comments highlights the importance of acknowledging the contributions and sacrifices of NATO allies throughout the Afghanistan conflict.
