Washington: Donald Trump is once again raising questions on the foundation of the NATO alliance. In an interview given to Fox News in Davos, Switzerland, he said that he does not believe that if America is ever attacked, NATO countries will stand with it. Citing the Afghanistan war, Trump claimed that the forces of the allied countries remained ‘a little behind the front line’ and America bore the real burden. However, other NATO allies are angry about this. Britain’s Prince Harry and British PM Keir Starmer have reacted strongly to this. Italy’s PM Georgia Meloni has come into the field against Trump’s Board of Peace. But it has been said that he will demand Nobel for him.

How much truth is there in Trump’s claim?

However, the figures prove Trump’s claim incomplete. About 3,500 NATO soldiers were killed in the 20-year war in Afghanistan, including 2,456 Americans, but hundreds of British and dozens of soldiers from smaller countries like Denmark and 40 were also killed. The forces of Britain and Denmark were at the forefront in Helmand province, the Taliban stronghold and it was there that they suffered the most losses. When America faced trouble, its allies stood up but Trump is not accepting his gratitude. For this reason it is being considered insulting. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called them ‘outrageous and extremely wrong’ and clearly said that such statements hurt the families of martyred soldiers. The British Prime Minister requested Trump to apologize for his statement. Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan with the British Army, said on Friday that the sacrifices of British soldiers during the war should be ‘talked about with truth and respect’.

Is Trump a friend of Europe?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also sat in front of Trump and reminded him that Europe not only supported America, but for every two American soldiers, one soldier returned from another NATO country after losing his life. This is the reason why in Europe it is being considered not just as a statement but as a sign of America’s changing policy. According to a recent survey, 51 percent people consider Trump as ‘Europe’s enemy’, while only eight percent people consider him as ‘Europe’s friend’. More than 1,000 people took part in the survey in France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark and Poland.

What did Georgia Meloni say on the Board of Peace?

Amidst this entire controversy, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni has expressed objection to Trump’s Board of Peace. He clearly said that this initiative in its current form is against the Constitution of Italy and does not match the system of his country. The Chancellor of Germany also said that he cannot join this board. Meloni also said that if Trump ends the Ukraine war justly, she will nominate him for the Nobel Prize. Meloni’s stance is interesting. She does not want conflict with America. He said that Italy is still ready for cooperation with America and countries like Italy and Germany can play the role of a bridge between Europe and America. He also admitted that the way America is taking initiatives regarding the Arctic region, its methods are strict and questionable, but the issue is real. According to Meloni, the Arctic has become a major strategic region of the 21st century and it should be taken seriously within NATO.