Downing Street hits back at Pete Hegseth after ‘diminishing role’ of Britain

Speaking to US army cadets about his time as a captain in Afghanistan, Mr Hegseth recalled seeing “50 flags” at the headquarters in Kabul.

He said: “I was a captain in Afghanistan, and we would go to the headquarters in Kabul, and there would be 50 flags at the headquarters.

“It was a beautiful thing to see, 50 different countries contributing to the Nato alliance and the mission there.

“Except there were maybe five that contributed, it was actually closer to one or two that by the end were actually involved in kinetic operations.”

Hitting back at the remarks, Downing Street said it is “wrong” to “diminish the role” of British armed forces in the Afghanistan war.

Asked about the US Defence Secretary’s remarks, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Look, frankly, the facts speak for themselves when it comes to the UK’s and Nato’s contribution to Afghanistan.

“Thousands of British and allied families made huge sacrifices to play their significant parts in that war and uphold our values.

“And more than 450 British personnel never returned. Their sacrifice and that of other Nato forces was made in the service of collective security and in response to an attack on our ally.

“We are incredibly proud of our armed forces and their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten, and it is wrong to diminish their role.”

The remarks come after US President Donald Trump was forced to climb down over comments he made about the British troops in Afghanistan.

Mr Trump told Fox News in January: “I’ve always said, will they be there if we ever needed them? That’s really the ultimate test, and I’m not sure of that.

“We’ve never needed them. They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan… and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.”

Taking to Truth Social a few days after his criticism, the President then hailed British troops as “the greatest of all warriors”.

He wrote: “The GREAT and very BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America!

“In Afghanistan, 457 died, many were badly injured, and they were among the greatest of all warriors.

“It’s a bond too strong to ever be broken. The UK Military, with tremendous Heart and Soul, is second to none (except for the USA!). We love you all, and always will! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

The then Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had branded the remarks “insulting” and “frankly appalling”.

In total, 457 British personnel were killed in Afghanistan between 2001 and the coalition’s withdrawal two decades later.