UK and Poland Condemn Hegseth for Downplaying Allies' Afghanistan Role

The UK government and Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski have criticized U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after he suggested only one or two NATO allies conducted kinetic operations in Afghanistan. Speaking at the University of Tennessee, Hegseth claimed that while up to 50 flags represented countries contributing to the mission, few were actually involved in combat. This statement drew sharp backlash from Downing Street and U.S. veterans who noted that over 30 nations deployed troops, with more than 457 British personnel dying on duty alongside thousands of American soldiers.