Prince Harry Urges Respect for Nato Troops’ Sacrifices in Afghanistan
Prince Harry has called for the sacrifices made by Nato troops in Afghanistan to be discussed with honesty and respect, following controversial remarks by the US president suggesting allied forces played a limited role in frontline combat.
Speaking on Friday, the Duke of Sussex reflected on his own military service in Afghanistan, where he was deployed twice during his time in the British Army. He paid tribute to the thousands of service members who served in the conflict, including 457 British personnel who lost their lives.
“I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there,” Prince Harry said, emphasizing the personal toll of the war on soldiers and their families.
His comments came after the US president claimed that allied forces largely stayed away from frontline fighting in Afghanistan, remarks that sparked anger and condemnation among political leaders, veterans and families of fallen soldiers across several countries.
Prince Harry highlighted Nato’s collective response following the September 11 attacks, noting that the alliance invoked its mutual defense clause for the first and only time in its history. This decision, he said, led allied nations to stand together in Afghanistan in pursuit of shared security goals.
He stressed that the cost of the conflict went far beyond the battlefield. Families lost sons and daughters, children grew up without parents, and many survivors continue to live with physical and psychological injuries.
“These sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect,” he said, adding that unity, diplomacy and peace should remain central to international defense efforts.
Political leaders in the United Kingdom strongly criticized the US president’s comments. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the remarks as deeply insulting and said they caused significant pain to the families of those who were killed or wounded during the conflict. He stated that if he had made such comments himself, he would have issued an apology.
Criticism was echoed internationally. Officials from several allied nations defended their troops’ roles in Afghanistan, emphasizing that soldiers from across the alliance fought, bled and died alongside US forces throughout the two-decade war.
Veterans also spoke out, rejecting claims that allied troops avoided danger. Many recalled serving on the front lines shoulder to shoulder with American forces, particularly in some of the conflict’s most intense regions.
The war in Afghanistan began in 2001 after the United States launched military action against the Taliban, accusing them of sheltering extremist leaders linked to the 9/11 attacks. Nato members contributed troops, equipment and logistical support to the mission for nearly 20 years.
By the time international forces withdrew in 2021, more than 3,500 coalition soldiers had been killed, with the United States and the United Kingdom suffering the highest number of casualties. Thousands more returned home with life-changing injuries.
Observers say the controversy has reopened painful memories for veterans and families, while also raising broader questions about the future of the Nato alliance. Prince Harry’s remarks were widely seen as a call to honor shared sacrifice and preserve respect among long-standing allies.
