British PM and European allies condemn former U.S. president’s suggestion that allies avoided frontline combat, citing sacrifices of hundreds of coalition troops.
LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a sharp rebuke of former U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday, calling his suggestion that European allies avoided frontline combat in Afghanistan “insulting and frankly appalling,” as a chorus of condemnation grew from leaders, veterans, and diplomats across Europe.
Trump, during an interview with Fox Business Network on Thursday, said European NATO allies had stayed “a little off the front lines” during the war in Afghanistan and asserted the United States had “never needed” the transatlantic alliance. The comments have reignited tensions with European partners already strained by Trump’s renewed interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark.
“I consider President Trump’s remarks to be insulting and frankly appalling,” Starmer told reporters, adding that he was “not surprised they’ve caused such hurt for the loved ones of those who were killed or injured.” When asked if he would seek an apology, Starmer said, “If I had misspoken in that way or said those words, I would certainly apologize.”
Britain, which lost 457 military personnel in Afghanistan—its deadliest overseas conflict since the 1950s—led some of the war’s most intense combat operations in Helmand province. The remarks prompted a wave of anger from British officials, including Veterans Minister Alistair Carns, a former soldier who served five tours.
“We shed blood, sweat and tears together. Not everybody came home,” Carns said in a social media post, calling Trump’s claims “utterly ridiculous.”
European Backlash Intensifies
The criticism extended across the continent, with officials and veterans emphasizing their nations’ sacrifices:
- Retired Polish General Roman Polko, a former special forces commander, said Trump had “crossed a red line” and demanded an apology, stating, “We paid with blood for this alliance.”
- Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel labeled the comments “untrue and disrespectful.”
- Denmark’s opposition Conservative MP Rasmus Jarlov called them “ignorant.” Denmark, which has faced U.S. pressure over Greenland, lost 44 troops in Afghanistan—one of NATO’s highest per-capita death rates.
- Poland’s Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed that Polish sacrifice “must not be diminished.”
Prince Harry, who served two tours in Afghanistan, also weighed in, saying, “Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect.”
A Challenge to NATO Unity
The controversy strikes at the core of NATO’s collective defense principle, Article 5, which was invoked for the first time after the 9/11 attacks, leading to the alliance’s mission in Afghanistan. For much of the conflict, the U.S.-led force operated under NATO command.
Some critics pointed to Trump’s personal military record. Ed Davey, leader of Britain’s Liberal Democrats, noted online: “Trump avoided military service five times. How dare he question their sacrifice.”
The United States suffered approximately 2,460 military fatalities in Afghanistan, a proportional loss comparable to several European allies. As diplomatic tensions mount, Starmer’s forceful response highlights the ongoing fragility in transatlantic relations amid a U.S. election year.
