From The Independent · · 1m 20s
Downing Street rejects Trump aide's claim on UK Afghanistan role
Pete Hegseth, Trump's defence secretary, suggested only one or two countries actually fought in Afghanistan. No 10 says the facts show Britain's sacrifice was significant.
In brief
Pete Hegseth, Trump's defence secretary, suggested only one or two countries actually fought in Afghanistan. No 10 says the facts show Britain's sacrifice was significant. Downing Street rejected defence secretary Pete Hegseth's claim that only one or two countries meaningfully fought in Afghanistan, citing Britain's…
Hegseth plays down allied role
Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's defence secretary, told US army cadets that maybe five countries contributed to Afghanistan, with only one or two actually fighting.
“maybe five that contributed, it was actually closer to one or two that by the end were actually involved in kinetic operations”
Hegseth's joke about Nato flags
At Kabul headquarters, fifty flags represented different countries. Hegseth joked the acronym ISAF meant I Saw Americans Fighting, suggesting minimal allied involvement.
“I Saw Americans Fighting”
No 10 rejects the claims
Downing Street said on Monday that the facts speak for themselves about Britain's and Nato's contribution, and it is wrong to diminish the role of British troops.
“the facts speak for themselves when it comes to the UK's and Nato's contribution to Afghanistan”
Britain's heavy toll in Afghanistan
More than four hundred fifty British personnel never returned from Afghanistan. The UK suffered the second-highest number of military deaths behind the US.
“more than 450 British personnel never returned”
Broader coalition losses documented
More than one thousand one hundred non-US coalition fighters died in the conflict that began in two thousand one, the overwhelming majority from Nato countries.
The key point
Downing Street rejected defence secretary Pete Hegseth's claim that only one or two countries meaningfully fought in Afghanistan, citing Britain's 450 military deaths and significant contribution.
