UK Slams Trump Over Afghanistan Troop Remarks

LONOND: (Web Desk) – UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday strongly condemned remarks by former US President Donald Trump suggesting British troops stayed away from frontline combat in Afghanistan, calling the comments “insulting” and “appalling.” Trump’s statement, made during an interview with Fox News, sparked widespread anger in the UK after he implied that NATO allies, including Britain, kept their forces away from direct fighting during the Afghanistan war.

Trump’s remarks overlooked the fact that 457 British soldiers lost their lives during the two-decade-long conflict, following NATO’s invocation of Article 5 after the September 11 attacks — the only time the alliance has activated its collective defence clause. The UK was the second-largest contributor to the US-led mission, with more than 150,000 British troops serving in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2021.

Speaking from Downing Street, Prime Minister Starmer paid tribute to fallen British service members and those who suffered life-changing injuries, stressing that Trump’s comments had caused deep hurt to bereaved families and veterans. He added that if he had made such remarks himself, he would have apologised.

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The comments prompted condemnation across the UK political spectrum and from NATO allies. Poland’s defence minister called for respect for allied veterans, while UK Defence Secretary John Healey described British soldiers as “heroes who gave their lives in service.” Opposition leaders, senior ministers, veterans’ groups and even long-time Trump supporters in Britain rejected the claims as inaccurate and damaging to NATO unity.

Veterans’ organisations reiterated that the sacrifices made by British forces cannot be questioned, noting that most UK fatalities occurred during hostile combat operations. The United States lost more than 2,400 troops during the conflict, while several other NATO allies also suffered casualties.