In a swift reversal, former US President Donald Trump has backtracked on his false claims about the role of NATO allies, including British forces, in the Afghanistan conflict. The move came after a widespread outcry from veterans, politicians across the political spectrum, and even Prince Harry, who condemned Trump’s “appalling” remarks.
Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the UK’s Labour Party, directly raised the issue with Trump during a phone call on Saturday, Downing Street has confirmed. Starmer called Trump’s comments “appalling” and demanded an apology, joining Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who described the remarks as “insulting and frankly appalling.”
Trump had previously suggested that NATO allies “stayed a little off the front line” in Afghanistan, a claim that has been widely refuted. In reality, more than 1,100 non-US coalition fighters, the majority from NATO countries, lost their lives in the conflict that began in 2001. The UK suffered the second-highest number of military deaths, behind the United States.
Responding to the backlash, Trump took to social media on Saturday to pay tribute to “the great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom,” acknowledging that they were “among the greatest of all warriors.” He added, “It’s a bond too strong to ever be broken.”
The former US president’s comments had sparked outrage across the political spectrum. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch stated that the role of NATO allies “should never have been questioned in the first place,” while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey questioned how Trump “dare” question the sacrifice of British soldiers, given his own avoidance of military service during the Vietnam War.
Armed forces minister and former commando, Al Carn, who served five tours in Afghanistan, described Trump’s remarks as “ridiculous.” The mother of a young British rifleman killed in the conflict, Lucy Aldridge, said the US president had “no compassion whatsoever for anyone who doesn’t serve him.”
The backlash has underscored the importance of acknowledging the sacrifices and contributions of all allied forces in the Afghanistan war, as well as the need for responsible and respectful discourse, even among political adversaries.
