These words have raised eyebrows.
A public dispute has erupted between Denmark and President Donald Trump following comments he made questioning the role of non-U.S. NATO troops during the war in Afghanistan—remarks that are now drawing international criticism and renewed scrutiny of America’s military alliances.
On Friday, Denmark’s ambassador to the United States, Jesper Møller Sørensen, responded directly to Trump’s statements by highlighting Denmark’s military support for the U.S. after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
“After 9/11, the United States called. Denmark answered,” Sørensen wrote on the social media platform X. He emphasized that thousands of Danish troops served in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province, often in high-risk combat zones. According to the ambassador, Denmark suffered one of the highest casualty rates per capita among NATO allies—something he described as a clear demonstration of solidarity with America.
Sørensen also shared a photo of himself standing alongside U.S. service members with a U.S. Marine Corps Osprey aircraft in the background, reinforcing the close military relationship between the two nations.
The comments followed an interview Trump gave to Fox Business Network while attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. During the interview, Trump said the United States “never needed” foreign NATO troops in Afghanistan, suggesting that while allies did deploy forces, they were often positioned away from the most intense fighting.
Those remarks prompted a response from NATO leadership. Mark Rutte reminded Trump that European allies did, in fact, fight and die alongside American forces. Rutte noted that for every two American troops killed in Afghanistan, one soldier from another NATO country also lost their life, including service members from Denmark and the Netherlands.
The controversy quickly spread to the United Kingdom, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office said the president’s comments unfairly diminished the contributions of allied forces. Political leaders across party lines echoed that concern.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the remarks, warning that dismissive statements about allied sacrifices could strain long-standing international relationships.
Even Nigel Farage, a political ally of Trump, publicly disagreed. Farage acknowledged that Britain and other NATO countries entered Afghanistan alongside the United States, remained engaged for two decades, and bore significant financial and human costs—similar to Denmark and other coalition partners.
Additional criticism came from Prince Harry, who served two tours in Afghanistan as a British Army officer. He stated that NATO nations clearly responded when Article 5 of the NATO treaty was invoked after 9/11, and spoke about the lasting impact of the war on military families.
The episode underscores ongoing debate over NATO burden-sharing and America’s global leadership role—issues that remain central to Trump’s foreign policy approach as he continues to challenge traditional alliances while prioritizing U.S. national interests.