UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sharply criticised comments by US President Donald Trump suggesting that NATO allies avoided frontline combat during the war in Afghanistan, describing the remarks as deeply insulting and hurtful to those who served and their families.
The criticism followed an interview aired on Thursday in which Trump appeared to downplay the role of non-US forces in Afghanistan, claiming allied troops stayed away from the front lines. The comments sparked immediate anger across Britain’s political spectrum, where the conflict remains a sensitive and painful chapter of recent history.
Speaking in a video message on Friday, Starmer paid tribute to the 457 British service personnel who lost their lives during the two-decade conflict. He said many more returned home with life-altering injuries and described Trump’s remarks as appalling, adding that they had understandably caused distress to families of the fallen and wounded. Starmer said that if he had made such a statement himself, he would have apologised.
Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, the United States invoked NATO’s collective defence clause for the first and only time, leading the UK and other allies to deploy troops alongside American forces. British soldiers were heavily involved in frontline operations, particularly in Helmand province, and the UK became the second-largest contributor to the US-led mission.
The White House rejected Starmer’s criticism, with a spokesperson defending Trump and reiterating his long-standing view that the United States has borne a disproportionate share of NATO’s military burden.
Reaction from across Europe was swift. Poland's defence minister, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, said respect was owed to Polish veterans who served under NATO commitments, noting that 43 Polish soldiers were killed in Afghanistan. France’s armed forces minister, Catherine Vautrin, said 90 French troops died during operations and stressed that their sacrifice deserved recognition and respect.
In Britain, Defence Secretary John Healey described the fallen as heroes who gave their lives in service to the country. Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, who completed multiple tours in Afghanistan, dismissed Trump’s claims as baseless. Opposition Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch warned that such rhetoric risked undermining NATO unity.
Even Nigel Farage, a long-time supporter of Trump, publicly disagreed with the US president, saying British forces had fought bravely alongside American troops for 20 years.
The comments also drew responses from veterans' organisations and the families of those killed. Lucy Aldridge, whose son William died at the age of 18 while serving in Afghanistan, said the remarks were deeply upsetting. The Royal British Legion asserted that one could not question the service and sacrifice of UK troops.
Prince Harry, who served two frontline tours in Afghanistan, also expressed his thoughts, recalling friends lost during the conflict and the lasting impact on military families. He asserted that we should honestly and respectfully acknowledge the sacrifices made by thousands of service personnel.
Official figures indicate that hostile action resulted in 405 of the 457 British fatalities. More than 150,000 UK personnel served in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2021. The United States lost more than 2,400 soldiers during the war.
The episode has added to wider concerns in Europe about the future of transatlantic relations and the stability of the NATO alliance, particularly as political rhetoric increasingly clashes with the lived experience of those who fought on its front lines.
