UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Rebukes Trump for Afghanistan Comments
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a strong condemnation of former US President Donald Trump for remarks perceived as diminishing the role of British forces in the Afghanistan war. The controversy erupted after Trump suggested that NATO allies, including the UK, "stayed a little back, a little off the front lines" during the conflict, sparking widespread outrage in Britain.
Downing Street's Forceful Response
A spokesperson from Downing Street delivered an unusually swift and forceful rebuke, stating that Trump was wrong to diminish the role of NATO troops, particularly British forces. The spokesperson emphasized that following the 9/11 attacks, Article 5 of the NATO treaty was invoked for the first time, leading to sustained combat operations where British troops served alongside American and allied forces.
The spokesperson highlighted the significant sacrifices made, noting that 457 British service personnel were killed during the war, with many more suffering life-changing injuries. "Their sacrifice, and that of other NATO forces, was made in the service of collective security and in response to an attack on our ally," the statement read, adding that the UK remains incredibly proud of its armed forces.
Defence Officials and Veterans Voice Outrage
Defence Minister Al Carns, a former Royal Marines commando with multiple tours in Afghanistan, described Trump's remarks as "ridiculous." He shared his personal experience, stating, "I served five tours in Afghanistan, many alongside my American colleagues. We shed blood, sweat and tears together. Not everybody came home." Carns emphasized that these bonds were forged in fire while protecting democracy.
Defence Secretary John Healey also condemned the comments, urging that British troops be remembered as heroes who gave their lives in service of the nation. The backlash extended across the political spectrum, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch calling Trump's claims "flat-out nonsense" and stressing that the sacrifice of troops deserves respect, not denigration.
Wider Political and Public Condemnation
Political figures and families of veterans joined in criticizing Trump's statements. Diane Dernie, whose son Ben Parkinson is one of the most severely wounded British soldiers to survive the war, labeled the remarks as the "ultimate insult" to those who served. Former cabinet secretary Lord Sedwill, who served as Britain's ambassador to Afghanistan, pointed out that UK and Danish forces took heavy casualties in some of the hardest areas, making any suggestion otherwise deeply offensive.
The Afghanistan campaign, initiated after NATO's Article 5 was invoked post-9/11, saw British forces engaged in some of the most dangerous regions alongside US and allied troops. This episode has reopened tensions between London and Washington at a sensitive time in transatlantic relations, as European allies push back against rhetoric they view as undermining shared military history and alliance solidarity.
