Prince Harry Condemns Trump’s False Claims About British Troops in Afghanistan

Prince Harry has strongly criticized Donald Trump over the U.S. president’s false statements regarding British troops who fought in Afghanistan, adding his voice to widespread condemnation from veterans and politicians across the political spectrum.

The Duke of Sussex, who served two frontline tours in Afghanistan as an Army Air Corps co-pilot gunner, defended the legacy of British military personnel who fought alongside American forces in the conflict.

“The sacrifices of Britons who fought and died in the country deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect,” Prince Harry said in a statement released Friday afternoon.

Trump sparked outrage among NATO allies when he suggested in a recent Fox News interview that allied troops “stayed a little off the front lines” in Afghanistan. He also claimed America had “never needed” its NATO partners, despite the United States being the only member to have invoked the alliance’s Article 5 mutual defense clause following the September 11 attacks.

The duke’s rebuke highlighted his personal connection to the conflict. “In 2001, NATO invoked Article 5 for the first – and only – time in history. It meant that every allied nation was obliged to stand with the United States in Afghanistan, in pursuit of our shared security. Allies answered that call,” Prince Harry stated.

“I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there,” he continued. “The United Kingdom alone had 457 service personnel killed. 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.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer earlier described Trump’s remarks as “insulting and frankly appalling,” demanding an apology from the U.S. president. Downing Street issued a statement saying Trump “was wrong to diminish the role of NATO troops, including British forces, in Afghanistan” and emphasized their service and sacrifice “will never be forgotten.”

Critics have been quick to note that over 1,100 non-U.S. coalition fighters died in the conflict that began in 2001, according to veteran charity Help for Heroes. The overwhelming majority of these casualties were from NATO countries, while more than 2,300 members of the U.S. armed forces were killed. Many have also pointed to Trump’s own history of avoiding military service, having received five draft deferments during the Vietnam War.

Former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, who first deployed British troops to support America in Afghanistan, responded through a spokesperson: “Tony Blair knows – and will always remember with deep gratitude – the enormous contribution and sacrifice British troops made in Afghanistan on the front line of the fight against terrorism, following the 9/11 attacks on the U.S.”

Military leaders joined in the criticism. Admiral Lord West, former head of the Royal Navy who coordinated naval activity in Afghanistan, told The Independent that Trump’s comments were “wrong and a disgraceful thing for anyone to say, let alone the head of state of an allied nation.”

Current Defence Secretary John Healey described British troops killed in Afghanistan as “heroes who gave their lives in service of our nation.” Defence Minister Al Carns, who himself served five tours in Afghanistan, issued a pointed invitation on social media for “whoever believes these comments” to meet him and the bereaved families of British personnel who died in the conflict.

The controversy highlights tensions within the transatlantic alliance at a time when NATO cohesion faces various challenges. Military experts note that coalition forces in Afghanistan operated under a unified command structure with troops from various nations assigned to different regions based on strategic needs rather than willingness to engage in combat.