September 11th attacks

Trump's sudden turn on British soldiers: "We love you all"

Donald Trump makes a sudden turn on British soldiers who fought with the US in Afghanistan.

"The great and very brave soldiers of Great Britain will always stand by the side of the United States!" he writes on Truth Social.

In recent days, the president has been criticized for expressing that the US did not need support from NATO in Afghanistan after the September 11th attacks. Among other things, Prince Harry came out and told the president that the soldiers deserve respect.

"The British military, with their enormous heart and soul, is second to none (except the US!). We love you all, and always will!" Trump continues.

Analysis: The otherwise calm Briton is seething with anger

Keir Starmer is a politician who keeps his emotions in check, but it was clear that anger was boiling when he called Donald Trump's reduction of NATO's efforts in the UK "insulted and disgusting". Sky News' Beth Rigby writes in an analysis.

Trump said that NATO forces were staying "a little behind the front" in the Afghanistan operation - NATO's response to the September 11 attacks and the only time Article 5 has been activated. A total of 1,160 non-American NATO soldiers died, almost half of them British.

"Through the statement, in the wake of threats of sanctions and invasion of a NATO ally, the so-called 'special relationship' between our countries is being poisoned", writes Rigby.

The Guardian’s Rowena Mason writes that Starmer has tiptoed around Trump, but that he has now finally been forced to put his foot down. Trump’s comments also provide grist for the mill for those who want to strengthen ties with the EU rather than the US – the latter being what Starmer’s political rival Nigel Farage wants, she continues.

Starmer has been both praised and criticized for how highly he has seemingly valued his relationship with Trump, writes the BBC’s Chris Mason.

“He has long argued that a close relationship is in the national interest. That may be questioned if weeks like the last one become the norm.”