WASHINGTON/LONDON, — U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday praised British forces who fought in Afghanistan, seeking to calm a diplomatic storm after comments he made this week were widely interpreted as downplaying the role and sacrifice of NATO allies in the two-decade war.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump called British soldiers “GREAT and very BRAVE,” citing the 457 UK service members killed in Afghanistan and saying the U.S.–UK bond is “too strong to ever be broken.”
The message followed sharp criticism triggered by Trump’s remarks in a Fox Business interview, where he questioned NATO’s reliability and suggested European troops in Afghanistan “stayed a little back” and “off the front lines.” The comments drew condemnation in the UK and across Europe, particularly among families of fallen troops and veterans, who described the characterization as dismissive of allied combat contributions.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Trump’s remarks “insulting and frankly appalling,” saying he would not forget the courage of British personnel who served alongside U.S. forces. Downing Street said Starmer raised the issue directly with Trump during a phone call on Saturday, during which the leaders referenced “brave and heroic” British and American troops who fought together in Afghanistan.
The dispute landed at the end of a tense week for the alliance, during which Trump’s rhetoric on Greenland—an autonomous territory of Denmark, a NATO member—prompted renewed scrutiny of U.S. commitment to allies and collective security norms. Downing Street said the two leaders also discussed the need for “bolstered security” in the Arctic.
Trump’s initial comments also drew pushback from leaders beyond the UK. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said statements minimizing NATO countries’ contribution in Afghanistan are “unacceptable,” stressing that alliance solidarity depends on mutual respect.
Prince Harry, who served two tours in Afghanistan, also urged that allied sacrifices be addressed “truthfully and with respect,” according to reporting cited by Reuters and AP.
While Trump’s Saturday post lauded Britain, it did not include an explicit apology for the earlier remarks, and it made no mention of other NATO countries that suffered casualties in Afghanistan—an omission that some observers said may leave residual friction inside the alliance as mid-year NATO planning intensifies.
