Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized US President Donald Trump, who declared that during the war in Afghanistan, NATO countries' soldiers "remained behind, outside the front lines." Meloni stated that "the Italian government was shocked by Trump's statements. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, NATO activated Article 5 of its treaty for the first and only time in history - a remarkable act of solidarity with the United States. Statements that minimize NATO countries' contribution in Afghanistan are unacceptable." Trump, who received similar criticism from Britain, declared earlier that "547 British soldiers were killed and many were seriously wounded in Afghanistan. We love the British army."