Trump says UK soldiers in Afghanistan ‘among greatest of all warriors’

Donald Trump has offered a glowing tribute to British soldiers who served in Afghanistan, describing them as "among the greatest of all warriors," in a statement issued after his earlier remarks about NATO forces sparked significant backlash from veterans and politicians. The former U.S. President’s earlier comments, made during an interview with Fox News, questioned the commitment of NATO allies, suggesting they had not pulled their weight in conflicts like the war in Afghanistan and doubted their willingness to support the United States in times of need. These assertions drew sharp criticism from international allies and condemnation within the UK, with figures like Sir Keir Starmer labeling them "insulting and frankly appalling."

The controversy began when Mr. Trump, during his Fox News interview on Thursday, stated, "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." This characterization deeply angered families of soldiers who had served in Afghanistan, as well as veterans and political representatives from both sides of the Westminster aisle and across the globe. The sentiment was echoed by Prince Harry, who highlighted the need to respect the sacrifices made by troops and pointed out that NATO’s collective security clause, Article 5, had been invoked only once in its history – following the September 11th attacks, a direct call to action for allies.

The U.S. invasion of Afghanistan commenced in October 2001, following the September 11th attacks, with the stated aim of ousting the Taliban regime for harboring Osama Bin Laden and other al-Qaeda operatives. NATO nations subsequently contributed troops and military assets to the U.S.-led coalition. By 2021, when the U.S. military withdrew, over 3,500 coalition soldiers had lost their lives in the protracted conflict, with Americans constituting approximately two-thirds of these fatalities. The United Kingdom sustained the second-highest number of military casualties, with 2,461 British service members killed.

In the wake of the controversy, the UK Prime Minister spoke with President Trump on Saturday. Following this conversation, Mr. Trump utilized his social media platform, Truth Social, to issue his revised statement. A spokesperson for Downing Street confirmed that during the call, the Prime Minister had emphasized 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."

Mr. Trump’s subsequent post on Truth Social appeared to backtrack from his earlier, more critical stance, though he stopped short of issuing a direct apology for his initial remarks. He wrote, "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!"

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch expressed her satisfaction that Mr. Trump had acknowledged the UK’s significant role in the conflict alongside the U.S. and other NATO allies, stating, "It should never have been questioned in the first place."

Earlier on Friday, the Duke of Sussex released a poignant statement that underscored the contributions of NATO troops in Afghanistan. "I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there," Prince Harry shared. He elaborated on the historical context of NATO’s involvement, noting, "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." He went on to emphasize the profound human cost of the conflict, stating, "Thousands of lives were changed forever. Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters. Children were left without a parent. Families are left carrying the cost. 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 majority of the 457 British soldiers who perished during nearly two decades of service in Afghanistan were killed in Helmand Province, the epicenter of much of the heaviest fighting. Countless others sustained severe injuries and lost limbs. Corporal Andy Reid, who lost both legs and his right arm after stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan, spoke to BBC Breakfast about the ongoing impact of the conflict. "Not a day goes by when we’re not in some kind of pain, physically or mentally reflecting on that conflict," he stated. Corporal Reid also recounted his experiences working alongside American soldiers, asserting, "If they were on the front line and I was stood next to them, clearly we were on the front line as well."

The initial remarks by President Trump drew widespread criticism from across the political spectrum in the UK, with figures such as Kemi Badenoch, Sir Ed Davey, and Nigel Farage publicly denouncing his comments. Beyond the UK, ministers from other nations also voiced their disapproval. Canada’s Minister of National Defence, David J McGuinty, affirmed that Canadian service members were "on the ground from the beginning, not because we had to, but because it was the right thing to do." Within the United States, political and military figures also expressed their anger and frustration. Former national security adviser Herbert Raymond McMaster told the BBC, "I think it’s insulting to those who were fighting alongside of us."

Notably, Mr. Trump’s revised statement on Saturday did not extend similar praise to other NATO allies who had deployed troops to Afghanistan. Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, stated that her government had been "astonished" by Mr. Trump’s initial comments. She highlighted Italy’s significant sacrifices, noting, "our nation paid a cost that is beyond dispute: 53 Italian soldiers killed and more than 700 wounded." Prime Minister Meloni further asserted on X that "statements that downplay the contribution of Nato countries in Afghanistan are unacceptable, especially when they come from an allied nation."