Despite the Royal Family’s rule about staying as far away from politics, its Duke of Sussex, and spare to the British throne has come forward with a statement in response to the President of the United States of America.
For those unversed, the president, Donald Trump, on January 22nd issued a statement about the NATO allies, and their alleged decision to stay ‘back’ from the frontlines during their war in Afghanistan, but the Duke, who served time on the ground at the time has spoken out, dispelling the claim.
What is pertinent to mention about Prince Harrys’ time in the British Army, he served there for nearly a decade, and that included almost two tours in Afghanistan.
But Trump questioned NATO’s ally countries, wondering they would actually “be there" in case the United States “ever needed them.”
Because “we have never really asked anything of them. You know, they’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan, or this or that. And they did — they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.”
According to the BBC, Prince Harry’s response referenced Article 5, which is the alliance’s mutual defense clause, and 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.”
“I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there. The United Kingdom alone had 457 service personnel killed.”
He didn’t end there and instead 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.”
Prince Harry also wasn’t the only person that spoke out, because British Prime Minster Keir Starmer quickly followed suite and added his own two cents in saying Trumps’ claim was “insulting and frankly appalling.”