In a startling display of disrespect, former US President Donald Trump has provoked outrage among British politicians, veterans, and families of fallen soldiers by claiming that NATO troops “stayed a little back, a little off the front lines” during the war in Afghanistan.
This inflammatory assertion has been swiftly and firmly rebuked by senior British figures, who have condemned Trump’s remarks as both offensive and factually inaccurate. Lord Sedwill, a former British ambassador to Afghanistan, told Times Radio that Trump’s claim is “simply wrong” and that Afghanistan veterans and bereaved families would be “right to feel deeply offended.”
Sedwill, who served in the conflict, stated unequivocally that the UK and other NATO allies “had a higher rate of casualties than the Americans” and were “engaged in some of the most vicious fighting in some of the most dangerous areas.” He stressed that Trump is “completely wrong to be dismissive” of the sacrifices made by non-American NATO forces.
Ian Wright, whose son Gary, a Royal Marine from Scotland, was killed in Helmand province in 2006, echoed Sedwill’s sentiments. Wright said there was “no such thing as a front line in Afghanistan” as the Taliban relied on improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and blended in with the civilian population, making it impossible to distinguish them from non-combatants.
The backlash has extended to British political figures, with Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey condemning Trump’s remarks, noting that the former president “avoided military service five times.” Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who served in Afghanistan, described it as “sad to see our nation’s sacrifice, and that of our NATO partners, held so cheaply by the president of the United States.”
Obese-Jecty, who witnessed the “horrific casualties” suffered by British soldiers in Sangin, expressed his belief that US military personnel do not share Trump’s dismissive views, stating that the former president’s words “do them a disservice as our closest military allies.”
The outrage expressed by British veterans, diplomats, and politicians underscores the deep offense caused by Trump’s flippant and inaccurate portrayal of NATO’s role in the Afghanistan conflict. As the country continues to grapple with the legacy of the war, this controversy serves as a stark reminder of the need for nuance, respect, and factual accuracy when discussing the sacrifices made by those who served.
