Downing Street Says Hegseth Was Wrong on Nato Role in Afghanistan
Pete Hegseth's claim that few non-US Nato forces fought in Afghanistan draws a direct rebuke as UK officials stress 457 British deaths
By AXY Politics Desk ·
Key points
- Downing Street said US defence secretary Pete Hegseth was wrong to downplay the role of Nato allies in Afghanistan.
- Hegseth said that only about five of the 50 contributing countries had contributed, and that one or two were involved in combat by the end.
- The UK government cited 457 British deaths and said more than 450 British personnel never returned.
- No 10 reasserted that UK support for Ukraine is unwavering as Trump shows greater willingness to engage with Russia.
- Earlier in January, Keir Starmer said Trump should apologise for remarks about Nato troops in Afghanistan.
Downing Street has criticised Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, for downplaying the role of Nato allies in the American-led combat operations in Afghanistan, saying he was wrong to do so. The rebuke, delivered by a spokesperson for Prime Minister Andy Burnham, came in response to a speech in which Hegseth argued that the alliance's contribution had been far smaller than its public face suggested. The intervention also marked a more cautious stance from No 10 on Donald Trump's growing willingness to engage with Russia, with the government stressing that its support for Ukraine remained “unwavering”.
What Hegseth Said
In a speech on Saturday, Hegseth recalled his time as a Minnesota Army National Guard instructor in Afghanistan. He described visiting the coalition headquarters in Kabul, where he said there were “50 flags” on display. He said it was “a beautiful thing to see, 50 different countries contributing to the Nato alliance and the Isaf mission there”, but added that only about five had contributed in practice. By the end of the mission, he said, it was “closer to one or two” countries that were actually involved in kinetic operations, a military term for combat engagements.
Hegseth also referred to a joke among personnel that the Isaf shoulder patch stood for “I Saw Americans Fighting”. He said that while the joke was “sort of a joke”, it was demoralising when “it’s not burden-sharing, it’s actually a burden.” Those remarks are the basis of the dispute: Hegseth framed the alliance's effort as lopsided, while critics in London argue that the description misrepresents the contribution of allied forces.
Downing Street's Response
Asked about the comments, the prime minister's spokesperson said: “Frankly, the facts speak for themselves when it comes to the UK’s and Nato’s contribution to Afghanistan.” The spokesperson added that “thousands of British and allied families made huge sacrifices” and that “more than 450 British personnel never returned.” The government said the sacrifice of allied forces “was made in the service of collective security and in response to an attack on our ally”, and concluded: “it is wrong to diminish their role.”
The reference to an attack on an ally points to the origins of the Afghan operation. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, Nato invoked Article 5 of its founding treaty, which states that an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all. That decision is the basis for the alliance's involvement in Afghanistan, and it is the reason British officials emphasise that allied troops were deployed not as bystanders but as part of a collective commitment.
The statement was notable for its directness. Government spokespeople in London typically avoid naming foreign officials in criticism, and the choice to say Hegseth was wrong signals that the issue has become politically sensitive. It also follows a more pointed exchange between Downing Street and Washington earlier this year.
Afghanistan Background: The Isaf Mission
The International Security Assistance Force, known as Isaf, was established in 2001 to support the Afghan government and help stabilise the country after the Taliban were removed from power. It was initially led by a coalition of countries and later came under Nato command. At its height, the mission brought together personnel from dozens of nations, which is why Hegseth's reference to 50 flags at the Kabul headquarters is relevant. The scale of the mission meant that most contributing countries provided troops for roles such as training, security, reconstruction and logistics, while combat operations were carried out by a smaller group of forces.
That division of labour is central to the current argument. Supporters of the allied contribution say that non-combat roles were essential to the mission's success and that many allied units faced serious danger even when they were not in the lead. Critics of the allied effort, including some US commentators, have argued that the burden of combat fell disproportionately on American forces. Hegseth's remarks reflect that second view, while the British response reflects the first.
The combat mission formally ended in 2014, after which Nato transitioned to a smaller training and advisory role. Although the precise balance of forces changed over time, the broad shape of the debate has remained consistent since then, with questions about burden-sharing, the value of allied contributions, and the cost in lives.
The Human Cost
The scale of loss is central to the dispute. According to the figures cited in the report, almost 2,500 US forces died in Afghanistan, which accounts for roughly two-thirds of the total death toll among international personnel. Personnel from more than 30 nations died on duty there, including 457 from the United Kingdom. Those figures are used by British officials to argue that allied participation was substantial and costly, regardless of how many countries were involved in direct combat.
For families, the issue is personal rather than statistical. The government's statement referred to thousands of British and allied families who made sacrifices during the war. That framing is likely to resonate with veterans' groups and with families of the fallen, who have often pushed for public recognition of the wider allied role. Analysts say that disputes of this kind rarely remain purely historical, because they shape how governments justify present-day commitments and how the public judges alliance obligations.
Wider Context: Ukraine and Russia
The Afghanistan exchange came at the same time as No 10 sought to clarify its position on Ukraine. The government reasserted that its backing for Kyiv was “unwavering”, a formulation that appeared to be aimed at reassuring allies as Trump has shown more willingness to engage with Moscow. Foreign policy specialists have long said that the transatlantic relationship depends on confidence that the United States and European partners share the same priorities, and that perceived shifts in Washington can prompt European governments to restate their positions publicly.
The British government has therefore been balancing two goals: maintaining a close relationship with the White House while making clear that European security commitments remain firm. Remarks about Nato history, such as Hegseth's comments on Afghanistan, can become a flashpoint in that balancing act, because they touch on whether allies are seen as equal partners in shared operations.
The remarks also echo an earlier clash. In January, Keir Starmer, then prime minister, said Trump should apologise for what he described as “insulting and frankly appalling” remarks suggesting that Nato troops had stayed “a little back, a little off the frontlines” in Afghanistan. The repeated focus on the issue suggests that the question of allied sacrifice is one that British governments see as politically and diplomatically important.
What to Watch Next
Several questions remain open. The first is whether Washington responds to the criticism, either by clarifying Hegseth's remarks or by defending them. The second is whether the dispute affects wider defence cooperation, including Nato planning and joint operations, although there is no indication in the reporting that formal arrangements are changing. Analysts say that the tone of public exchanges between allied governments can matter as much as formal policy, because it shapes how militaries and publics perceive commitments.
The third question is how Downing Street handles its approach to Russia and Ukraine in the coming weeks. Officials have so far emphasised continuity of support for Kyiv, but any shift in US policy toward Moscow would put pressure on European governments to define their own positions more clearly. For now, the government's message is that the sacrifices of British and allied personnel in Afghanistan should not be minimised, and that the alliance's record should be judged on its full contribution rather than on a narrow count of combat roles.
Questions and answers
What did Pete Hegseth say about Nato forces in Afghanistan?
In a speech, Hegseth said that many of the 50 countries listed as contributing to the Isaf mission were not involved in combat, and that by the end only one or two were actually engaged in kinetic operations. He described the alliance effort as a burden rather than burden-sharing.
Why did Downing Street criticise Hegseth?
A government spokesperson said the facts speak for themselves about the UK and Nato contribution in Afghanistan. They stated that more than 450 British personnel never returned and that it is wrong to diminish their role.
How many UK personnel died in Afghanistan?
According to the report, 457 personnel from the United Kingdom died on duty in Afghanistan. Personnel from more than 30 nations died there in total.
What happens next in the dispute?
The article does not report any formal response from Washington. Watchers will look for whether the US clarifies Hegseth's remarks and how the UK approaches Russia and Ukraine in coming weeks.
Topics: Pete Hegseth, Downing Street, Nato, Afghanistan, Isaf, Ukraine, Donald Trump, UK armed forces
Sources: The Guardian Politics
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