It has been revealed that more British soldiers have died in Afghanistan than all the other TWENTY-SIX nations of the EU put together.
Britain has so far suffered 356 deaths in the conflict, whereas the combined losses for the other EU forces total 298.
The figures have led to British politicians accusing the other EU nations of not doing enough.
Conservative MP Julian Brazier, who sits on the Commons defence committee, said: 'Most of the rest of the EU have not been pulling their weight. Most have put their forces in the safest places while leaving America and Britain to risk their soldiers’ lives.'
In terms of the number of deaths in Afghanistan amongst EU countries, Britain is ahead by a great distance. After Britain, the EU country with the greatest death toll so far in Afghanistan is France with just 53 - over six-and-a-half times less fatalities than the British - followed by Germany with 46 and Italy with 35.
Britain also has almost twice as many troops in Afghanistan as Germany, the second-largest EU force in the country, proving that Britain is certainly the only serious military power in the EU.
The Americans have suffered 1,476 fatalities. After the US and Britain, the country with the highest number of fatalities is Canada, with 154.
More soldiers from UK have died in Afghanistan than in all TWENTY-SIX other EU nations put together
By Daily Mail Reporter
16th February 2011
Daily Mail
Britain's involvement in Afghanistan has cost them more lives than the rest of the other 26 EU nations put together.
Official figures revealed today showed that the combined losses for the other EU forces in the war-torn country total 298.
Yet Britain had endured 356 deaths among its serving personnel and defence experts said it showed that the other allied nations were not giving as much as the UK.
Losses: Britain has lost more soldiers in Afghanistan than all of the other 26 EU nations combined
It has also led to renewed questions about the quality of British troops' equipment, with another surge against thee Taliban expected to cost more lives this year.
'Most of the rest of the EU have not been pulling their weight,' said Conservative MP Julian Brazier, who sits on the Commons defence committee.
'Most have put their forces in the safest places while leaving America and Britain to risk their soldiers’ lives.'
Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said: 'Our forces are the world’s bravest and best and are doing a fantastic job in Afghanistan.
'Others can do more': Shadow Defence secretary Jim Murphy
'Some other European countries are also heavily committed but others could do more.'
France has the next highest fatality toll at 53, followed by Germany 46, Italy 35, Spain 30, Holland 25 and Poland 24. One Belgian soldier has died during the 10-year conflict.
Some countries have suffered comparatively high fatality rates — including Denmark, Holland and Estonia, which have deployed 750, 196 and 159 troops to Afghanistan respectively.
Britain has committed 9,500 troops while the rest of the EU has just over 23,000, with the contingent from Germany almost 5,000, France 4,000 and Italy 3,770. The US has sent 90,000 troops and suffered 1,476 fatalities.
Mr Brazier also questioned whether British troops had the best kit available, given their high fatality rate.
Nato chiefs have repeatedly urged other European nations to bolster deployments in Afghanistan.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'The UK is by some distance the second-largest contributor to the international mission in Afghanistan.
'This year will continue to be very tough as we take the fight to the enemy.'
David Cameron has pledged to bring home British combat troops by 2015.
dailymail.co.uk
Britain has so far suffered 356 deaths in the conflict, whereas the combined losses for the other EU forces total 298.
The figures have led to British politicians accusing the other EU nations of not doing enough.
Conservative MP Julian Brazier, who sits on the Commons defence committee, said: 'Most of the rest of the EU have not been pulling their weight. Most have put their forces in the safest places while leaving America and Britain to risk their soldiers’ lives.'
In terms of the number of deaths in Afghanistan amongst EU countries, Britain is ahead by a great distance. After Britain, the EU country with the greatest death toll so far in Afghanistan is France with just 53 - over six-and-a-half times less fatalities than the British - followed by Germany with 46 and Italy with 35.
Britain also has almost twice as many troops in Afghanistan as Germany, the second-largest EU force in the country, proving that Britain is certainly the only serious military power in the EU.
The Americans have suffered 1,476 fatalities. After the US and Britain, the country with the highest number of fatalities is Canada, with 154.
More soldiers from UK have died in Afghanistan than in all TWENTY-SIX other EU nations put together
By Daily Mail Reporter
16th February 2011
Daily Mail
Britain's involvement in Afghanistan has cost them more lives than the rest of the other 26 EU nations put together.
Official figures revealed today showed that the combined losses for the other EU forces in the war-torn country total 298.
Yet Britain had endured 356 deaths among its serving personnel and defence experts said it showed that the other allied nations were not giving as much as the UK.
Losses: Britain has lost more soldiers in Afghanistan than all of the other 26 EU nations combined
It has also led to renewed questions about the quality of British troops' equipment, with another surge against thee Taliban expected to cost more lives this year.
'Most of the rest of the EU have not been pulling their weight,' said Conservative MP Julian Brazier, who sits on the Commons defence committee.
'Most have put their forces in the safest places while leaving America and Britain to risk their soldiers’ lives.'
Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said: 'Our forces are the world’s bravest and best and are doing a fantastic job in Afghanistan.
'Others can do more': Shadow Defence secretary Jim Murphy
'Some other European countries are also heavily committed but others could do more.'
France has the next highest fatality toll at 53, followed by Germany 46, Italy 35, Spain 30, Holland 25 and Poland 24. One Belgian soldier has died during the 10-year conflict.
Some countries have suffered comparatively high fatality rates — including Denmark, Holland and Estonia, which have deployed 750, 196 and 159 troops to Afghanistan respectively.
Britain has committed 9,500 troops while the rest of the EU has just over 23,000, with the contingent from Germany almost 5,000, France 4,000 and Italy 3,770. The US has sent 90,000 troops and suffered 1,476 fatalities.
Mr Brazier also questioned whether British troops had the best kit available, given their high fatality rate.
Nato chiefs have repeatedly urged other European nations to bolster deployments in Afghanistan.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'The UK is by some distance the second-largest contributor to the international mission in Afghanistan.
'This year will continue to be very tough as we take the fight to the enemy.'
David Cameron has pledged to bring home British combat troops by 2015.
dailymail.co.uk
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