Donald Trump has sought to ease tensions with the UK and other Nato allies after remarks suggesting allied forces stayed away from the front lines in Afghanistan drew sharp criticism from veterans and politicians…reports Asian Lite News
Donald Trump has praised British troops who fought in Afghanistan after his suggestion that Nato forces avoided frontline combat triggered a fierce backlash from veterans, bereaved families and political leaders on both sides of the Atlantic. The episode has underlined strains in relations between the US president and allied governments, even as Washington and London moved quickly to limit the diplomatic damage.
The controversy began with an interview Trump gave to Fox News on Thursday in which he cast doubt on the contribution of Nato allies to the two-decade war in Afghanistan and questioned whether the alliance would stand by the United States if called upon. “We’ve never needed them. We have never really asked anything of them. They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan… and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines,” he said.
Those remarks drew condemnation from international allies and from across the political spectrum in the UK. Sir Keir Starmer described the comments as “insulting and frankly appalling”, reflecting the anger of many British veterans and families of those who served. Critics said Trump’s words ignored the scale of Nato’s contribution and the human cost borne by allied forces.
The war in Afghanistan began in October 2001 after the United States invaded the country to remove the Taliban, whom Washington said were harbouring Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaeda figures linked to the 9/11 attacks. Nato invoked its collective defence clause, Article 5, for the first and only time, and member states sent troops, equipment and support to the US-led mission. By the time American forces withdrew in 2021, more than 3,500 coalition soldiers had died, around two-thirds of them Americans. The UK suffered the second-highest number of military deaths after the US, which lost 2,461 personnel.
Amid growing criticism, Trump spoke by telephone with Starmer on Saturday. Downing Street said the leaders discussed Britain’s role alongside US and Nato forces in Afghanistan. A spokesperson said: “The prime minister raised the brave and heroic British and American soldiers who fought side by side in Afghanistan, many of whom never returned home. We must never forget their sacrifice.”
Shortly after the call, Trump posted a message on his Truth Social platform that appeared to soften his earlier stance, while stopping short of a direct apology. “The great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America. In Afghanistan, 457 died, many were badly injured, and they were among the greatest of all warriors. It’s a bond too strong to ever be broken. The UK military, with tremendous heart and soul, is second to none (except for the USA). We love you all, and always will!” he wrote.
The figure of 457 refers to the number of British service personnel who died in Afghanistan over nearly 20 years of operations, most of them in Helmand province, the scene of some of the heaviest fighting. Hundreds more were wounded, many with life-changing injuries. Among them is Cpl Andy Reid, who lost both his legs and his right arm after stepping on an improvised explosive device.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she was pleased Trump had acknowledged the UK’s role. “It should never have been questioned in the first place,” she said. Other senior figures in Westminster, including Sir Ed Davey and Nigel Farage, had earlier criticised the US president’s Fox News remarks.
Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan, also intervened, issuing a statement on Friday highlighting Nato’s collective commitment after 9/11. “I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there,” he said. “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. Thousands of lives were changed forever… Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect, as we all remain united and loyal to the defence of diplomacy and peace.”
The criticism was not confined to Britain. Canada’s Minister of National Defence, David J McGuinty, said Canadian “men and women were on the ground from the beginning, not because we had to, but because it was the right thing to do.” Politicians and military figures in the United States also expressed frustration, warning that Trump’s comments risked undermining trust within Nato.
