By Peter Omopo
Former United States President Donald Trump has praised British soldiers who fought in Afghanistan, describing them as “among the greatest warriors of all time,” following widespread criticism of his earlier comments that appeared to downplay the role of Nato allies in the conflict.
Trump’s initial remarks, made during a Fox News interview on Thursday, triggered anger among veterans, politicians and families of fallen soldiers after he suggested that allied forces avoided front-line combat in Afghanistan. He also questioned whether Nato members would support the United States “if we ever needed them.”
The comments drew strong condemnation from international allies and British political leaders. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the remarks as “insulting and frankly appalling,” while Prince Harry said the sacrifices of Nato troops deserved respect, noting that the alliance’s collective defence clause was invoked for the first and only time after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
During the interview, Trump said of Nato forces: “We’ve 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.” The statement prompted calls for an apology from veterans and politicians across the UK and other allied nations.
The United States invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 to oust the Taliban, accused of harbouring al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden following the 9/11 attacks. Nato countries contributed troops and equipment to the US-led campaign. By the time US forces withdrew in 2021, more than 3,500 coalition soldiers had been killed, including 2,461 Americans. The UK suffered the second-highest number of fatalities, with 457 service personnel losing their lives.
On Saturday, Downing Street confirmed that the UK prime minister had discussed Britain’s role in the conflict with Trump, highlighting the sacrifices made by British and American troops who fought side by side.
Shortly afterwards, Trump issued a statement on his Truth Social platform, stopping short of an apology but offering strong praise for British forces. “The great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America,” he wrote. “In Afghanistan, 457 died, many were badly injured, and they were among the greatest of all warriors.”
He added that the bond between the two countries’ militaries was “too strong to ever be broken,” describing the UK armed forces as “second to none.”
Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan, also released a statement stressing the shared sacrifices of Nato troops. He recalled losing friends during the conflict and said thousands of families had been permanently affected. “Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect,” he said.
Most British casualties occurred in Helmand province, the scene of some of the fiercest fighting. Hundreds more were injured, including Corporal Andy Reid, who lost both legs and an arm after stepping on an improvised explosive device. Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Reid said British and American soldiers often fought side by side on the front line.
Trump’s comments continued to attract criticism from UK political leaders and international figures. Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, a former Afghanistan veteran, said no one had the right to mock the service of allied soldiers, while Canada’s Defence Minister David McGuinty said Canadian troops were deployed because “it was the right thing to do.”
Former US national security adviser H.R. McMaster also criticised Trump’s remarks, describing them as insulting to those who fought alongside American forces.
