Trump's Controversial Remarks on NATO Troops in Afghanistan Spark Outrage

Sun Feb 01 2026 12:58:50 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Former President Donald Trump's recent comments suggesting NATO troops did not engage on the front lines in Afghanistan have ignited criticism from various UK political leaders and veterans, emphasizing the sacrifices made by soldiers.

Donald Trump's claim that NATO troops, including British soldiers, stayed 'a little off the front lines' during the Afghanistan war has led to significant backlash from UK politicians and veterans. Labour MP Emily Thornberry described his remarks as an 'absolute insult' to those who lost their lives in the conflict. Trump's comments call into question the contributions of NATO allies, sparking a debate on military sacrifice and international cooperation.

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.

The US president told Fox News that he was not sure the military alliance would be there for America if we ever needed them. He remarked, We have never really asked anything of them and claimed, 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 the remarks were much more than a mistake, stating: It's an absolute insult... How dare he say we weren't on the front line? She added that Trump, who has not served in the military, was now commander in chief and knows nothing about how it is that America has been defended.

On the same programme, Conservative shadow cabinet member Stuart Andrew also called the comments disgraceful and emphasized the profound sacrifices made by those who served overseas. Sir Ed further stated on social media that Trump has avoided military service, questioning his right to critique the sacrifices of veterans.

Former British Army officer Obese-Jecty expressed sadness over Trump's comments, underscoring that service members' contributions should be honored. Calvin Bailey, a Labour MP and former RAF officer, noted Trump's claims do not reflect the reality experienced by those who served and highlighted that the shared belief in liberty has historically united US and UK forces.

The BBC approached the Ministry of Defence for comment, which reiterated the commitment of UK forces who fought alongside NATO allies in Afghanistan, as articulated by Defence Secretary John Healey: In Afghanistan, our forces trained together, they fought together, and on some occasions, they died together, making the ultimate sacrifice.

The US invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001 aimed to oust the Taliban for harboring Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaeda leaders. By 2021, over 3,500 coalition soldiers had died, with the UK suffering the second-highest number of deaths in the conflict.