Prince Harry says sacrifices of NATO troops in Afghanistan deserve ‘respect’

The Duke of Sussex has called for “an honest and respectful conversation about the sacrifice of NATO troops” after the US president claimed allies were “just a little behind” on the frontline in Afghanistan.

“I served there. I made lifelong friends there. I lost friends there,” Prince Harry, who was twice deployed to the country, said on Friday as he paid tribute to NATO troops killed in the conflict, including 457 British service members.

The prince has responded to controversial comments made by Donald Trump during an interview on Thursday.

Trump’s comments drew condemnation from international allies, with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calling them “insulting and frankly shocking.”

Britain and other countries joined the United States in Afghanistan after invoking NATO’s collective security provisions after the 9/11 attacks.

Prince Harry said: “In 2001, Article 5 was invoked for the first and only time in NATO’s history. This meant that every Ally had an obligation to stand with the United States in Afghanistan and pursue our mutual security. Allies responded to that call.”

He added: “Thousands of lives have been changed forever. Mothers and fathers have buried sons and daughters. Children have lost their parents. Families have had to bear the cost.”

“These sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and respectfully as we all remain united and loyal to the defense of diplomacy and peace.”

The duke’s comments followed an interview with Trump on Fox News in which he said: “We never needed them. We never really asked them for anything.

“They will say they sent some troops to Afghanistan … and they did, they stayed behind, away from the front lines.”

The president also said he was “not sure” whether the military alliance would provide the United States “if we needed it.”

In Britain, Trump’s comments were condemned across the country’s political divide.

Sir Keir gave his own reaction shortly before the prince’s statement, saying he would “definitely apologize” if he had “misspoken in this way”.

Sir Keir said: “I will never forget their courage, their bravery and the sacrifice they made for their country.

“There are also a lot of people injured, some with life-changing injuries.

“I find President Trump’s comments insulting and frankly shocking, and I’m not surprised they are causing such harm to the loved ones of those killed and injured and across the country.”

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, one of 33,000 Polish soldiers serving on the front lines in Afghanistan, said: “No one has the right to mock the service of our soldiers.”

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, former NATO secretary-general during the war in Afghanistan, told BBC World Service: “No American president should have the freedom to belittle their legacy and insult those who are still grieving that they did not come back alive from Afghanistan.

“What I look forward to is a sincere apology from the president of the United States.”

In October 2001, the United States invaded Afghanistan to oust the Taliban, which it said was harboring Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaeda figures linked to the 9/11 attacks. NATO countries provided troops and military equipment to the U.S.-led war.

By the time the United States withdrew from the country in 2021, more than 3,500 coalition troops had died, about two-thirds of them Americans. Britain had the second-highest military death toll in the conflict, behind the United States (2,461 deaths).

In the past 20 years, most of the 457 British soldiers serving in Afghanistan were killed in Helmand province, where the fighting has been fiercest.

Hundreds more were injured and lost limbs, including Corporal Andy Reid, who lost both legs and his right arm after stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan.

“Every day we are in some kind of pain, either physically or mentally, reflecting on this conflict,” he told BBC Breakfast.

Reed recalled working with American soldiers during his time in Afghanistan, adding: “If they were on the front lines and I was standing next to them, then obviously we were on the front lines too.”

Diane Dernie, whose son Ben Parkinson was seriously injured when an Army Land Rover hit a landmine near Moussakara in 2006, said Trump’s words were “very insulting” and difficult to hear.

The 41-year-old is currently recovering from another surgery, but Deni told the BBC that Trump’s comments showed “a childish person trying to get over his behavior”.

Denis called on Starmer to “stand up for his armed forces” and condemned the US president.

Her comments were referred to the Prime Minister, who responded: “I’ve made my position clear and what I said to Diane is that if I had said the wrong thing in that way or said those things, I would certainly apologize and I would apologize to her.”

In a second interview with the BBC shortly after Starmer’s statement, Denis said the Prime Minister’s words were strong enough but said he should have gone further.

“His words are exactly what we want to hear, but we need to get them directly to the president,” Deney said. “I appreciate what Starmer said, but they need to be said to Donald Trump.”

Leaders of the main parties in Westminster reacted to Trump’s comments throughout Friday.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenock said: “I have spoken to the parents of young people who lost their lives. It is a disgrace that their memory should be tarnished like this.”

“President Trump has made too many hasty remarks. He clearly does not understand the history of what happened. We must not have such casual remarks.”

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey criticized the US president’s comments, saying: “Trump has avoided military service five times. How dare he question their sacrifice.”

During the Vietnam War, Trump delayed the draft five times, four for academic reasons and one because of bone spurs, a buildup of calcium in the heels.

Nigel Farage, leader of the British Reform Party, said: “Donald Trump is wrong. Our armed forces have been fighting alongside American troops in Afghanistan for 20 years.”

U.S. political and military figures also expressed anger and frustration at Trump’s NATO remarks.

Former national security adviser Herbert Raymond McMaster, who served as a senior U.S. official in Afghanistan, said British troops were engaged in counterinsurgency operations every day.

“I think it’s an insult to those who have fought alongside us,” McMaster told the BBC.

“What I wanted him to say was to make amends by affirming our gratitude to the allies who fought alongside us, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice in a war that I believe is important to the future of all humanity.”

Trump repeatedly criticized NATO during his second term, often accusing its members of not spending enough on defense.

In the past few weeks, Trump has made comments about acquiring Greenland – the semi-autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark.

Trump has disrupted the transatlantic pact with repeated comments about ownership, threats of military action and tariffs on traditional European allies.

The White House has remained silent on the outrage expressed in Britain, in part because the story has not attracted much attention in the United States and because Trump has been busy with other matters and did not appear in front of the camera to take questions as usual.

On Friday, before Starmer called on the US president to apologize, the White House issued a statement adhering to Trump’s long-standing views on NATO.

The White House said: “President Trump is right – America’s contribution to NATO dwarfs that of other countries, and his success in meeting the 5% spending commitment of NATO allies is helping Europe take greater responsibility for its own defense.

“The United States is the only NATO partner capable of protecting Greenland, and the president is doing so to advance NATO interests.”

The White House has yet to comment on Starmer’s suggestion of an apology.