Trump's Controversial Comments Spark Anger Over NATO Troops in Afghanistan

Sun Jan 25 2026 20:08:53 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Donald Trump's remarks regarding NATO troop involvement in Afghanistan have drawn fierce backlash from British politicians and military veterans, who demand accountability for his comments perceived as disrespectful to the sacrifices made by soldiers.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has incited outrage in the UK by claiming NATO troops avoided the front lines during the Afghanistan conflict. This statement has led to strong criticism from British lawmakers, who view it as an insult to the soldiers' sacrifices. Key figures, including Labour MP Emily Thornberry and Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, expressed their dismay, emphasizing the significance of the UK's contributions to the war and the shared sacrifices of NATO allies.

Donald Trump has sparked fresh outrage in the UK after saying NATO troops stayed a little off the front lines during the war in Afghanistan.

Labour MP Emily Thornberry, the chair of the foreign affairs committee, called it an absolute insult to the 457 British service personnel killed in the conflict, while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: How dare he question their sacrifice?

Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who served in Afghanistan, said it was sad to see our nation's sacrifice, and that of our NATO partners, held so cheaply.

The UK was among several allies to join the US in Afghanistan from 2001, after it invoked NATO's collective security clause following the 9/11 terror attacks.

Trump told Fox News on Thursday that he was not sure the military alliance would be there for America if we ever needed them. He stated, We’ve never needed them, adding: They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan, and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.

Thornberry told the BBC's Question Time that Trump’s remarks were much more than a mistake. She expressed anger at his comments, questioning the legitimacy of NATO's contributions in the conflict and criticizing Trump's lack of military experience.

Conservative shadow cabinet member Stuart Andrew also condemned the comments as disgraceful and called for gratitude towards those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Former British Army officer Obese-Jecty noted the sadness in Trump's perception of sacrifice, whereas Labour MP Calvin Bailey emphasized that Trump's comments do not reflect the realities faced by those who served in Afghanistan.

The comments come as the BBC sought statements from the UK Ministry of Defence, which previously highlighted the collaborative experiences of nations during the conflict.

The US invasion of Afghanistan aimed to eliminate the Taliban's support for al-Qaeda following the September 11 attacks, with NATO allies contributing significantly to the military efforts.

As of 2021, over 3,500 coalition soldiers had lost their lives, with the UK suffering the second-highest military deaths in the conflict.

Trump's remarks have reignited discussions about the historical bond between the US and UK, particularly in the context of NATO alliances and shared military responsibilities.