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BRITISH Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments on European troop involvement in Afghanistan as “insulting and frankly appalling,” joining a growing chorus of criticism from European leaders, military veterans, and members of the royal family.
“I consider President Trump’s remarks to be insulting and frankly appalling, and I’m not surprised they’ve caused such hurt for the loved ones of those who were killed or injured,” Reuters reported Starmer telling reporters.
When asked whether he would seek an apology, the Prime Minister said, “If I had misspoken in that way or said those words, I would certainly apologise.”
Trump’s remarks, made during an interview on Fox Business Network, suggested that the United States “never needed” its transatlantic allies and that European forces remained “a little off the front lines” during the Afghan conflict.
The comments have heightened already strained relations with European partners, coming shortly after Trump signalled interest in acquiring Greenland at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The remarks drew swift condemnation from across Europe. Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel called Trump’s comments “untrue and disrespectful,” while Britain’s Prince Harry, a former Afghanistan serviceman, stressed, “Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect.” Retired Polish general and former special forces commander Roman Polko added, “We expect an apology for this statement. We paid with blood for this alliance. We truly sacrificed our own lives. Trump has crossed a red line.”
Britain’s veterans minister, Alistair Carns, whose own military service included five tours in Afghanistan, described Trump’s claims as “utterly ridiculous,” emphasising the shared hardships faced by allied troops.
“We shed blood, sweat and tears together. Not everybody came home,” he said. Richard Moore, former head of MI6, highlighted the dangers faced alongside CIA counterparts and the pride of serving with America’s closest ally.
NATO, under its founding treaty, commits members to collective defence through Article 5, which has been invoked only once, following the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.
During the Afghan conflict, NATO commanded U.S.-led forces, with allied nations contributing significantly to combat and reconstruction efforts. Britain lost 457 service personnel, Canada over 150, France 90, Denmark 44, and other European nations also suffered casualties.
The United States lost approximately 2,460 troops, a figure broadly comparable on a per-capita basis to Britain and Denmark.
Criticism of Trump has also highlighted his history of avoiding military service during the Vietnam War. Ed Davey, leader of Britain’s Liberal Democrats, wrote, “Trump avoided military service five times.
How dare he question their sacrifice.” Poland’s Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed, “Poland’s sacrifice will never be forgotten and must not be diminished.” Danish opposition politician Rasmus Jarlov labelled the remarks “ignorant.”
The backlash underscores the enduring sensitivity surrounding the sacrifices made by NATO allies in Afghanistan and reflects widespread disapproval of statements perceived to diminish the efforts of those who served and suffered in the conflict. - January 24, 2026