'Insulting And Appalling': UK PM Rebukes Trump Over Remarks On NATO Troops In Afghanistan

Last Updated:January 24, 2026, 08:27 IST

UK PM Keir Starmer condemned US President Donald Trump’s NATO Afghanistan war remarks as "insulting," demanded an apology, and highlighted British troop sacrifices.

Starmer slammed Trump's comments over NATO troops in Afghanistan. (Image: AFP)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer slammed US President Donald Trump over his remarks suggesting that NATO forces stayed away from frontline combat during the war in Afghanistan, describing the comments as “insulting and appalling" to British troops and their families.

Responding strongly to Trump’s remarks, Starmer paid tribute to the British soldiers who served in the conflict and demanded an apology from the US President.

“Let me start begin by paying tribute to the 457 members of our armed forces who lost their lives in Afghanistan. I will never forget their courage, their bravery, and the sacrifice they made for their country. Many were injured, some with life-changing injuries. So, I consider US President Donald Trump’s remarks to be insulting and, frankly, appalling," the British PM said while speaking to reporters in London.

“I am not surprised they have caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured, and indeed across the country," he added.

Starmer’s statement comes amid growing backlash across Europe following Trump’s comments made earlier this week. Speaking to Fox News on Thursday, Trump questioned the value of the NATO alliance and claimed allied forces had avoided direct combat roles during the Afghanistan war. “They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan, and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines," Trump said, adding that the United States had “never needed" the transatlantic alliance.

The remarks triggered sharp criticism from European politicians and military veterans, who pointed out that hundreds of NATO soldiers from allied nations were killed while fighting alongside US forces during the two-decade-long conflict.

Trump’s comments have further strained already tense relations between the US and its European allies. The controversy follows his recent remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he reiterated his interest in acquiring Greenland — a suggestion that drew strong opposition from European leaders.

In response to the growing tensions, the European Union has paused negotiations on a trade deal with the US, with EU officials warning against unilateral actions that could undermine stability within the transatlantic alliance.

News world 'Insulting And Appalling': UK PM Rebukes Trump Over Remarks On NATO Troops In Afghanistan

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