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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned President Donald Trump’s false claims that non-American NATO troops “stayed a little back” from the front line during the war in Afghanistan, calling the remarks “insulting and, frankly, appalling.”
Speaking on Friday, Starmer said he was not surprised the comments had caused “such hurt” across the United Kingdom. He paid tribute to the “457 members of our armed services who lost their lives in Afghanistan” and vowed to never forget their sacrifice, along with the many more who suffered life-changing injuries.
When asked whether Trump should apologize for his comments, Starmer appeared to agree without explicitly demanding it. “If I had misspoken in that way, or said those words, I would certainly apologize,” he stated.
The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the “very close relationship” between the UK and US, similar to his position earlier in the week when denouncing Trump’s tariff threats. He noted that it was precisely because of this alliance that British forces “fought alongside the Americans for our values in Afghanistan.”
Trump’s controversial statements came during a Fox News interview on Thursday, where he questioned NATO’s reliability. “We’ve never needed them, we have never really asked anything of them. You know, they’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan, or this or that, and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines,” the President claimed.
This assertion contradicts historical facts about NATO’s involvement in Afghanistan. According to British veterans charity Help for Heroes, approximately 3,486 troops among the coalition forces died in the war, including over 2,300 American service members. NATO’s Article 5 – which considers an attack against one member as an attack against all – was invoked for the first and only time following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, who pledged to “stand shoulder to shoulder” with the US after 9/11, responded to Trump’s comments 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 US,” the statement read. Blair was recently appointed to serve on Trump’s Gaza Board of Peace.
Other British officials issued more forceful rebuttals. Defence Secretary John Healey said, “The UK and NATO allies answered the US call. Those British troops should be remembered for who they were: heroes who gave their lives in service of our nation.”
Alistair Carns, the UK Minister of State for the Armed Forces who served five tours in Afghanistan himself, called Trump’s claims “utterly ridiculous” and later shared video footage of his own front-line service. “Many courageous and honorable service personnel from many nations fought on the front line. We shed blood, sweat, and tears together. And not everybody came home,” he added.
Opposition Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch described Trump’s remarks as “flat-out nonsense,” stating that NATO troops’ sacrifices deserve “respect not denigration.” Downing Street had earlier stated that Trump was “wrong to diminish the role of troops, including British forces.”
Prince Harry, who recently returned to the UK to testify in his case against Associated Newspapers Limited, also weighed in, noting how “allies answered the call” in support of the US. “Thousands of lives were changed forever… Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect,” he said.
The backlash extended beyond British shores. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk recalled a 2011 ceremony honoring five Polish soldiers killed in Afghanistan, stating: “The American officers who accompanied me then told me that America would never forget the Polish heroes. Perhaps they will remind President Trump of that fact.”
Trump’s comments come amid his ongoing criticisms of NATO and his recent refusal to rule out leaving the alliance over his push to annex Greenland, further straining relationships with key US allies as international tensions mount.
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7 Comments
It’s disappointing to see the US president make such inflammatory comments about the UK and other NATO partners. Their forces fought bravely alongside American troops in Afghanistan, and deserve recognition for their sacrifices.
While the US-UK relationship is important, that doesn’t mean we should overlook or downplay the contributions of other NATO members. Starmer is right to stand up for the sacrifices made by British troops in Afghanistan.
Starmer is right to call out Trump’s disrespectful comments about NATO allies. The UK and its forces played a crucial role in Afghanistan, and their sacrifice should be recognized. Trump should apologize for his divisive rhetoric.
Trump’s remarks about NATO allies are concerning and risk undermining the unity of the alliance. Starmer is correct to condemn the comments and emphasize the important role played by British forces in Afghanistan.
Insulting the efforts of NATO allies is unacceptable, especially given the heavy losses suffered. Trump should apologize for his remarks, which undermine the solidarity and shared values that the alliance is built upon.
As an ally of the US, it’s important for the UK to maintain a strong relationship. However, that doesn’t mean we should ignore or downplay the contributions of other NATO members in Afghanistan. Starmer is right to defend the record of British forces.
Trump’s comments on NATO allies are concerning. We should respect the sacrifices of all troops who fought in Afghanistan, regardless of nationality. Starmer is right to condemn the divisive rhetoric and call for unity.