Mother's 'disgust' over Trump's Nato remarks

The mother of a soldier who died while attempting to rescue American troops in Afghanistan said Donald Trump's recent comments over Nato caused "disbelief, disgust and sorrow".

Rifleman Cyrus Thatcher, from Caversham, Berkshire, was 19 when he died on 2 June 2009 after an explosion while he was on patrol near Gereshk in Helmand province.

Trump claimed while Nato countries sent "some troops" to fight in Afghanistan from 2001, they "stayed a little back, a little off the front lines" but has since praised British troops after being widely criticised.

Thatcher's mother, Helena Tym, said his claim was "another kick in the stomach" following years of grief.

"Cyrus was killed directly because of going to rescue American forces. He was at a forward operating base - which means on the front line - and he was part of a quick reaction team that was called on by the Americans to go to help rescue a bomb squad," she said.

"To say that our troops weren't on the front line is just a complete and utter lie. Like everybody's said, it's just so disrespectful and it's just thoughtless."

The Ministry of Defence said Thatcher "showed great promise from the outset" in his military career.

The Manchester United fan was an "exemplary role model", who was sent to the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick as a mentor to new recruits, and then to Kosovo in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2009.

"He was so proud to become a member of the British armed forces. That was all he ever wanted to do," Tym, who has two other sons, said.

"He wanted to go out to Afghanistan to make what he believed was a difference. He was a great kid, he was great fun. He was 19, he had his whole life ahead of him. He knew he was doing something that was right and unfortunately he came home in a coffin."

She added, of Trump's previous comments: "They trip you up along the way. My mental health isn't great. My boys' mental health isn't great and this is just another kick in the stomach when you're already down."

The UK was among several allies to join the US in Afghanistan after Nato's collective security clause was invoked for the first and only time in its history following the 9/11 attacks. During the conflict, 457 British service personnel were killed.

Article 5 of Nato states that an attack on one member is considered an attack against all.

Sir Keir Starmer and Prince Harry were amongst those who condemned Trump's comments.

The latter said: "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."

Bracknell MP Peter Swallow, whose constituency includes the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, paid tribute to Thatcher's sacrifice.

"When I have the privilege of meeting some of those cadets I always hold in my mind that these are young men and women for whom this country owes the greatest debt because we might at some point in their careers ask them to make that ultimate sacrifice, just as Cyrus did," Swallow said.