UK veteran demands 'massive apology' from Trump

3 hours ago

Andy WatsonSeaham

News image — Andy Cammiss served in Afghanistan during his 13 year career in the British army

BBC Andy Cammiss, standing in front of East Durham Veterans Trust in Seaham. He is dressed in a blue waterproof jacked with a grey hoody, is wearing black rimmed glasses and has a thick brown and grey beard and short brown hair. — Andy Cammiss served in Afghanistan during his 13 year career in the British army

A UK army veteran has called for a "massive apology" after US President Donald Trump said Nato Troops did not serve on the front line in Afghanistan.

In an interview with Fox News, President Trump said forces sent by Nato allies "stayed a little back" in the war, which was led by the US in response to the 9/11 attacks.

After widespread criticism, he later said the UK soldiers in Afghanistan were "among the greatest of all warriors".

Some 457 UK armed forces personnel lost their lives in Afghanistan, 49 of whom were from the North East and Cumbria. Andy Cammiss from the East Durham Veterans Trust, based in Seaham, County Durham, served in the Royal Corps of Signals in Helmand Province in 2008.

Getty Images / Chip Somodevilla U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. — President Trump has been widely criticised for his comments

"I was in the forward operating base in the Sangam Valley, so to hear the President saying that's not the front line, I'd like to know where the front line is," Mr Cammiss said.

The East Durham Veterans Trust supports ex-armed forces personnel of all ages, some of whom like Mr Cammiss served in Afghanistan during military action between 2001 and 2021.

Mr Cammiss, a 13 year Army veteran, said: "There should be a massive apology to the UK.

"We've got to think about how these words are going to affect the thousands of troops who served in Afghanistan and have been battling mental health problems ever since.

"There's been a lot of good work done and we don't want to see our suicide rates jumping up to what they were."

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the comments "insulting and appalling", while Prince Harry said Nato troops deserved respect.

Family Handout Andy Cammiss standing at a military base in Helmand Province in 2008. He is wearing dessert coloured camouflage clothing and black sunglasses, is clean shaven with short fair hair and is standing with his hands in his pockets. — Andy Cammiss serving in Royal Corps of Signals in Afghanistan in 2008

Chair of the Intelligence Security Committee, Lord Beamish Kevan Jones said Trump's which he called "appalling" and "hurtful".

"There is anger which is shared among veterans and family members who've lost loved ones and he should apologise to at least try and make some amends, but I'm not sure even that will even satisfy some families and rightly so in my opinion," Lord Beamish said.

The former North Durham MP visited Afghanistan six times when previously serving as under-secretary in the Ministry of Defence.

"It's very clear British Forces weren't sitting back from the front line, I visited people who were severely wounded, that wasn't shying away from the front line, it was people taking an active fight against the Taliban," Lord Beamish added.

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