US Defence Secretary Criticised For Downplaying Nato's Afghanistan Role

Summarised from 4 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 19 Oct, 13:19 · Archive

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has been criticised for suggesting only a few countries contributed significantly to the war in Afghanistan.

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has faced criticism after remarks in which he downplayed Nato's role in the Afghanistan war. Speaking to army cadets, Hegseth said that although 50 countries had flags at the headquarters in Kabul, 'maybe five' actually contributed to the mission, with only 'one or two' involved in actual fighting by the end. He joked that the ISAF patch stood for 'I Saw Americans Fighting' rather than International Security Assistance Force.

In reality, more than 1,100 non-American troops from 31 countries were killed in Afghanistan, with 457 of those from the UK. A community note on social media highlighted these figures in response to a video of Hegseth's comments.

Downing Street responded to the remarks by stating that 'the facts speak for themselves' regarding the UK's and Nato's contribution to Afghanistan. A spokesman said that thousands of British and allied families made 'huge sacrifices' and that more than 450 British personnel never returned home. The spokesman added that this sacrifice was made 'in the service of collective security and in response to an attack on our ally' and that 'it is wrong to diminish their role'.

How it is being reported

• Downing Street hits backs at US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over Afghanistan comments - 'wrong'Downing Street branded US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's comment as 'wrong' after he suggested that most non-American soldiers in Afghanistan did not do any direct fightingThe Mirror · 19 Oct, 13:51
• Downing Street hits back after Trump’s war secretary diminishes UK’s role in AfghanistanPete Hegseth suggested that ‘maybe five’ other countries contributed to the warThe Independent · 19 Oct, 13:17
• 'More than 450 Brits never returned': No10 rebukes US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for mocking contribution of allied troops in AfghanistanPete Hegseth used a speech to cadets recently to claim that 'maybe five' countries played a role in the fighting, and by the end of the campaign it was only 'one or two'.Daily Mail · 19 Oct, 13:07
• Downing Street Hits Back At Pete Hegseth For Downplaying Nato's Role In Afghanistan WarUS defence secretary Pete Hegseth at a college football game on Saturday. Downing Street has hit back at Pete Hegseth after he tried to downplay the role Nato played in the Afghanistan war . The US defence secretary suggested that “maybe five” countries other than America contributed to the mission, with just “one or two” actually fighting. More than 1,100 non-US service personnel lost their lives in the war, including 457 from the UK. But speaking to US army cadets, Hegseth said: “I was a captain in Afghanistan and we would go to the headquarters in Kabul and there would be 50 flags at the…HuffPost UK · 19 Oct, 12:38
• 'Shameful': Pete Hegseth Blasted Over Attack On Nato's Contribution To Afghanistan WarUS defence secretary Pete Hegseth holds talks with Wes Streeting at the Pentagon last Thursday. Pete Hegseth has been criticised after he mocked the contribution Nato countries made to the war in Afghanistan. The US defence secretary was branded “dishonest, disrespectful and dishonourable” over his comments, which he made in a speech to US army cadets. Hegseth suggested that “maybe five” countries contributed to the mission, with just “one or two” actually fighting. In fact, more than 1,100 non-American troops from 31 different countries were killed in Afghanistan, 457 of them from the UK.…HuffPost UK · 19 Oct, 07:00

In this story: Pete Hegseth · Nato · Downing Street · Afghanistan · United States · United Kingdom · Kabul

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem