24th January 2026/SUNTV Global Channel/News
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sharply criticised US President Donald Trump over comments suggesting that NATO allies avoided frontline combat during the war in Afghanistan, describing the remarks as “insulting” and “appalling” to the memory of fallen soldiers.
Starmer’s response came after an interview aired on Fox News on Thursday, in which President Trump claimed that NATO countries sent troops to Afghanistan but kept them “a little back” from the front lines. The comments sparked outrage in the UK and across Europe, with critics accusing the US president of ignoring the heavy sacrifices made by allied forces.
“Let me start by paying tribute to the 457 members of our armed services who lost their lives in Afghanistan,” Starmer said in a video message released on Friday. “Many others were injured, some with life-changing injuries. I consider President Trump’s remarks to be insulting and frankly appalling.”
Britain was one of the closest US allies in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks, when NATO invoked its collective defence clause for the first — and only — time. More than 150,000 UK troops served in the conflict between 2001 and 2021, making Britain the second-largest contributor to the US-led mission.
Trump’s remarks appeared to overlook the fact that British, Canadian, French, German, Polish, Italian and other NATO troops fought and died alongside American forces. Of the 457 British personnel killed, official figures show that 405 died as a result of hostile action.
“If I had misspoken in such a way, I would certainly apologise,” Starmer added, noting the deep pain such statements cause to the families of fallen soldiers.
The White House, however, rejected the criticism. A spokeswoman said President Trump was “absolutely right” in asserting that the United States had done more for NATO than any other member country combined.
Anger over the comments has spread well beyond Britain. Poland’s Defence Minister, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, demanded respect for Polish veterans, noting that 43 Polish soldiers died in Afghanistan. France’s Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said 90 French troops were killed during NATO operations, adding that their sacrifice “commands respect.”
Within the UK, condemnation came from across the political spectrum. Defence Secretary John Healey described the fallen troops as “heroes,” while Armed Forces Minister Al Carns — a veteran of five tours in Afghanistan — called Trump’s comments “utterly ridiculous.”
Opposition Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch warned that such remarks could weaken the NATO alliance. Even Nigel Farage, a long-time Trump supporter, publicly disagreed, stating: “Donald Trump is wrong. For 20 years our armed forces fought bravely alongside America’s in Afghanistan.”
Families of the fallen also spoke out. Lucy Aldridge, whose 18-year-old son William died in Afghanistan, described Trump’s remarks as “extremely upsetting.”
Veterans’ groups echoed the sentiment. The Royal British Legion said the service and sacrifice of British troops “cannot be called into question.”
Prince Harry, who served two frontline tours in Afghanistan, also weighed in, stressing that the war permanently changed thousands of lives. “Families are left carrying the cost,” he said. “Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect.”
The United States lost more than 2,400 soldiers in the conflict, according to reports.
As tensions rise over the comments, the backlash underscores the sensitivity surrounding Afghanistan — a war that claimed thousands of lives and left lasting scars on soldiers, families, and nations across the NATO alliance.
