Donald Trump has praised UK soldiers who fought in Afghanistan after his claim that allied forces avoided the front lines prompted criticism from veterans and politicians.
Earlier this week Trump angered US allies by downplaying the role of NATO troops in the war and doubting whether the military alliance would be there for the US 'if we ever needed them'.
Trump's words drew condemnation from international allies, while Sir Keir Starmer called them 'insulting and frankly appalling'.
The UK Prime Minister spoke to Trump on Saturday, after which the US president used his Truth Social platform to praise UK troops as being 'among the greatest of all warriors'.
Trump was criticized for remarks he made during an interview with Fox News on Thursday in which the president said of NATO troops: 'We've never needed them. We have never really asked anything of them.'
That triggered a huge backlash from the families of soldiers who served in Afghanistan, as well as veterans and politicians from across Westminster and the international spectrum who called for Trump to apologize.
In October 2001 the US invaded Afghanistan to oust the Taliban, whom they said were harboring Osama Bin Laden and other al-Qaeda figures linked to the 9/11 attacks the previous month. NATO nations contributed troops and military equipment to the US-led war.
More than 3,500 coalition soldiers died, about two-thirds of them Americans, as of 2021 when the US withdrew from the country. The UK suffered the second-highest number of military deaths in the conflict behind the US, which suffered 2,461 fatalities.
On Saturday, Downing Street said the Prime Minister and US president spoke about the UK's involvement alongside US and NATO forces in the conflict.
A spokesperson said: 'The Prime Minister raised the brave and heroic British and American soldiers who fought side by side in Afghanistan, many of whom never returned home. We must never forget their sacrifice.'
Shortly after the conversation, Trump posted fresh comments on his Truth Social platform - appearing to step back from his critical comments but stopping short of directly apologizing for the words he used in Thursday's interview.
He wrote: 'The great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America. In Afghanistan, 457 died, many were badly injured, and they were among the greatest of all warriors. It's a bond too strong to ever be broken. The UK military, with tremendous heart and soul, is second to none (except for the USA). We love you all, and always will!'
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she was pleased Trump had acknowledged the UK's role in fighting alongside the US and NATO allies in Afghanistan.
'It should never have been questioned in the first place,' she said.
