After Trump's remarks on Afghanistan, officials remind Latvia's participation in missions and sacrifices

RIGA - Following US President Donald Trump's remarks that NATO troops have not fought on the Afghan front, Latvian officials remind about Latvia's participation in missions and fallen soldiers.

President Edgars Rinkevics tweeted that Latvia was involved in NATO's Article 5 mission in Afghanistan before it formally joined the alliance.

"Our soldiers Edgars Ozolins, Voldemars Ansevics, Andrejs Merkusevs and Davis Baltabols paid the ultimate price. They will always be remembered. And we will always stand by our allies, just as we believe they will stand by us," Rinkevics said.

The president notes that Latvia lost four more soldiers in the operations in Iraq and Georgia - Vitalijs Vasiljevs, Janis Voitkevics, Gints Bleija and Olafs Baumanis.

Defense Minister Andris Spruds (Progressives) tweeted that Latvia stood shoulder to shoulder with the US after the 9/11 attacks, along with other NATO allies.

Seven Latvian soldiers sacrificed their lives fighting terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq. Latvia keeps alive the memory of the selfless sacrifice of these soldiers, the minister said.

As reported, US President Trump claimed in an interview with Fox News that NATO troops did not fight on the Afghan front, sparking outrage in the UK and other NATO countries.