© EPA/ AARON SCHWARTZ / POOL He issued another public statement in a more appeasing manner.
On Saturday, US President Donald Trump publicly lauded the “courageous” British troops, referring to them as genuine combatants, according to Reuters.
This recognition emerged following objections from both Britain and throughout Europe regarding his assertion that European forces were avoiding the battlefields in Afghanistan.
Britain suffered the loss of 457 service members in Afghanistan, marking its deadliest overseas war since the 1950s. During some of the most intense periods of the conflict, British forces spearheaded the coalition effort in Helmand province, the most expansive and volatile region in Afghanistan, and fought alongside the US as a crucial partner on the battleground in Iraq.
“The MAGNIFICENT and UTTERLY BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom will forever stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States of America!” Trump posted on Truth Social. “457 individuals perished in Afghanistan, many sustained grave injuries, and they were among the most exceptional fighters. This is a connection that cannot be severed.”
Trump's initial remarks triggered an unusually forceful response from Starmer, who typically refrains from openly criticizing the US president.
The British Prime Minister's office indicated that he engaged in a discussion with Trump on Saturday, during which he addressed the matter.
“The Prime Minister commemorated the valiant and heroic British and American soldiers who fought together in Afghanistan, many of whom never made it back home,” the statement conveyed. “We must always remember their dedication.”
Veterans in the UK and internationally also widely denounced the US president's comments made on Thursday on Fox Business Network's Mornings with Maria, in which he declared that the United States “never required” the transatlantic alliance and accused allies of being “somewhat distant from the front lines” in Afghanistan.
Among those who responded publicly was King Charles' youngest son, Prince Harry, who served two tours in Afghanistan.
“We must speak of these casualties with honesty and respect,” he stated.