UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has fiercely condemned US President Donald Trump’s dismissal of NATO allies’ sacrifices in Afghanistan, calling the comments “insulting and frankly appalling”. The backlash intensifies transatlantic tensions over Trump’s NATO Afghanistan remarks during a Fox News interview.
Trump’s Thursday interview from Davos, Switzerland, sparked outrage when he claimed NATO troops “stayed a little back, a little off the front lines” and insisted the US had “never needed” its NATO allies.
Background: NATO’s Role in 20-Year Afghanistan War
NATO, a military alliance of European nations and the US, treats an attack on one member as an assault on all. Following the 9/11 attacks, NATO invoked its Article 5 mutual defence clause for the first time on September 12, 2001, supporting the US invasion of Afghanistan to dismantle al-Qaeda and oust the Taliban.
The war (2001-2021) saw heavy coalition losses, per Pentagon data:
- Total coalition deaths: ~3,600
- US losses: Over 2,200 troops
- Key allies: Kingdom 457, Canada158, France86
Hundreds more suffered injuries and lost limbs.
UK PM Starmer’s Fiery Response to Trump NATO Comments
Reacting on Friday, Keir Starmer defended the fallen:
“I will never forget their courage, their bravery and the sacrifice they made for their country,”
He added:
“I consider President Trump’s remarks to be insulting and frankly appalling and I am not surprised they have caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured and, in fact, across the country.”
Prince Harry, Experts Join Condemnation
Prince Harry, who served two tours in Afghanistan, slammed the remarks:
the “sacrifices” made by NATO troops “deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect”.
Former US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns called Trump’s comments “shameful”, amplifying criticism from European leaders amid strained NATO-US relations.
Trump’s Fox News statements have ignited a broader debate on alliance burden sharing, with allies like the UK demanding respect for their Afghanistan war contributions.
