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Trump shifts tone on UK military role in Afghanistan
Former U.S. President Donald Trump praised British soldiers on Saturday, days after facing sharp criticism for suggesting NATO allies avoided frontline combat in Afghanistan. The remarks followed a call with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who emphasized the shared sacrifices of American and British troops.
Controversial comments spark global backlash
Trump's initial remarks, made during a Thursday interview with Fox News, drew condemnation from veterans, politicians, and international leaders. He claimed NATO allies had "stayed a little back, a little off the front lines" in Afghanistan, adding, "We've never really asked anything of them."
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the comments "insulting and frankly appalling," while Canadian Defense Minister David J. McGuinty stated that Canadian forces were "on the ground from the beginning... because it was the right thing to do." Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also rejected Trump's claims, noting that 53 Italian soldiers died and over 700 were wounded in the conflict.
UK losses and shared sacrifices
The UK suffered 457 military fatalities in Afghanistan, the second-highest toll after the U.S., which lost 2,461 service members. Most British deaths occurred in Helmand province, where fighting was fiercest. Hundreds more were injured, including Corporal Andy Reid, who lost both legs and an arm to an improvised explosive device (IED).
"If they were on the front line and I was stood next to them, clearly we were on the front line as well."
Corporal Andy Reid, Afghanistan veteran
Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan, also weighed in, stating that NATO's Article 5-invoked for the first time after the 9/11 attacks-obliged allies to stand with the U.S. "Thousands of lives were changed forever," he said, urging respect for the sacrifices made.
Trump's follow-up statement
After speaking with Starmer, Trump posted on Truth Social, acknowledging the UK's losses: "457 died, many were badly injured, and they were among the greatest of all warriors." He described the bond between the two nations as "too strong to ever be broken" but did not address the broader criticism of NATO allies.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch welcomed the acknowledgment but said the UK's role "should never have been questioned in the first place."
International reactions
Beyond the UK, leaders from Canada, Italy, and other NATO members rejected Trump's characterization of allied contributions. Former U.S. National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster called the remarks "insulting to those who were fighting alongside us."
The controversy underscores ongoing tensions over NATO's role and collective defense commitments, nearly five years after the U.S.-led withdrawal from Afghanistan.
