Claims Spark Anger in London
The UK government has criticised Donald Trump after the US president suggested NATO allies played only a limited role in Afghanistan, comments that have caused deep anger among British politicians and military families. In an interview with Fox News, Trump claimed allied troops stayed away from the front lines, appearing unaware that 457 British service personnel died during the conflict that followed the September 11 attacks.
Official UK figures show that 405 of those deaths were the result of hostile action, underlining the scale of Britain’s involvement. In response, the UK said on Friday that Trump was “wrong to diminish” the role played by NATO forces in the war.
Article 5 and the Cost of War
After the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, NATO invoked Article 5 — its collective defence clause — for the first and only time, leading the UK and other allies to join the US-led mission in Afghanistan in 2001. Troops from countries including Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Denmark also lost their lives during the conflict.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said the sacrifices made by British and allied forces were “in the service of collective security” and should never be forgotten. Defence Secretary John Healey echoed that sentiment, stressing that NATO allies answered America’s call and paid a heavy price.
Political and Personal Fallout
Care Minister Stephen Kinnock said he expected Starmer to raise the issue directly with Trump, noting that Britain is “incredibly proud” of its armed forces. Foreign Affairs Committee chair Emily Thornberry described Trump’s remarks as “an absolute insult” to the families of those who died, saying they went far beyond a simple mistake.
For relatives of the fallen, the comments cut particularly deep. Lucy Aldridge, whose 18-year-old son William was killed in Afghanistan, said the remarks were “extremely upsetting.” The United States, meanwhile, lost more than 2,400 soldiers during the war, highlighting the shared burden carried by NATO allies.
