U.S. President Donald Trump has pivoted to praising British soldiers who participated in the Afghanistan war, following comments that sparked widespread anger from veterans and politicians who attacked his dismissal of the roles of NATO forces.
Trump’s statements at the beginning of the week triggered extensive controversy after he downplayed the role of NATO soldiers in the war and questioned whether these allies would be ready to support the United States in the event of need.
Opposition leader Keir Starmer described Trump’s comments as “degrading and clearly disgusting,” and the U.S. President’s remarks drew condemnation from international allies.
The British Prime Minister spoke with Trump by phone on Saturday, after which Trump used his “Truth Social” platform to describe UK soldiers as being “among the greatest warriors ever.”
Trump’s turnaround comes after accusations were leveled against him during an interview with Fox News on Thursday, when he said of NATO soldiers: “We never needed them, and we asked very little of them.” He added, “They’ll say they sent some soldiers to Afghanistan… and they did, but they stayed in the back a little bit, a little bit away from the front lines.”
This ignited a fierce backlash from the families of Afghanistan veterans and from politicians across the spectrum in Westminster and diplomatic circles, who demanded an apology from Trump.
Prince Harry declared that the sacrifices made by NATO soldiers must be respected, noting that NATO allies intervened only once in their history—following 9/11.
The United States entered Afghanistan in October 2001 to oust the Taliban movement, which it condemned as a safe haven for Osama bin Laden and other members of the Al-Qaeda network linked to the 9/11 attacks. NATO countries provided reinforcements of soldiers and weaponry for the U.S.-led war.
More than 3,500 coalition soldiers died, nearly two-thirds of whom were Americans, by the time the U.S. left the country in 2021. The United Kingdom suffered the second-highest number of fatalities in the conflict after the United States, recording 457 deaths.
On Saturday, Downing Street announced a conversation between the Prime Minister and the U.S. President regarding the UK’s participation alongside U.S. and NATO forces in the war. A spokesperson for Downing Street stated: “The President referred to the heroic British soldiers who fought in Afghanistan alongside U.S. forces, many of whom did not return home. We must never forget their sacrifices.”
Following that call, Trump posted new comments on his “Truth Social” platform—where he appeared to retreat from his controversial remarks, though he did not directly challenge the observations he made in Thursday’s interview.
He wrote: “The heroic and brave British soldiers will always stand alongside the United States of America. In Afghanistan, 457 died, many were badly injured, and they are among the greatest warriors ever. This bond is so strong it can never be broken. British forces, with their big hearts and souls, are second to none (after the U.S.). We love you all, and we will always be together!”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she was pleased that Trump had recognized the UK’s role in fighting alongside the U.S. and its NATO allies in Afghanistan. “There should never have been any doubt,” she said.
Prince Harry issued a message on Saturday praising the contributions of NATO forces who were in Afghanistan. “I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost some friends there,” the Prince said. “In 2001, NATO invoked Article 5 for the first—and last—time in its history. It meant that every allied nation stood alongside the United States in Afghanistan for the sake of shared security. The allied nations answered the call.”
“Thousands of lives were changed forever. Sons and daughters were buried by mothers and fathers. Children became fatherless. Families bore the cost. These sacrifices demand to be spoken of accurately and respectfully, as we remain united and loyal in the defense of diplomacy and life.”
The 457 British soldiers who died served in Afghanistan over a period of more than 20 years, with intense battles taking place in the Helmand region. Hundreds were injured and lost limbs, including Sergeant Andy Reid, who lost three limbs after an IED explosion in Afghanistan. He said that “not a day goes by without us enduring some form of pain, physical or mental, while reflecting on that war” during an interview with BBC Breakfast on Friday. Reid mentioned his work with American soldiers, noting: “If they were on the front lines and I was standing next to them, then clearly we were both on the front lines.”
Kemi Badenoch, Ed Davey, and Nigel Farage were among the leaders in Westminster who attacked the U.S. President for his criticism; foreign ministers from other governments also criticized Trump for his remarks. Canadian National Defence Minister David McGuinty said Canadian men and women were on the ground from the beginning, “not because we forced them to, but because it was the right thing to do.”
Military analysts and U.S. citizens also expressed their anger and felt insulted by Trump’s remarks. Former National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster told a British news outlet: “I think he deals with those who fight alongside us in a superficial sense.”
United News Network – UNN Arabic
An independent media platform providing reliable news and objective analysis, seeking to promote peace and cultural dialogue around the world to convey the truth and build bridges of understanding between peoples.
For more news, you can visit our homepage:
