A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated on October 19, 2026 that Pete Hegseth was wrong to diminish the service and sacrifice of British and allied forces in Afghanistan.

From the articleNo10 rebukes Hegseth for mocking role of Nato troops in AfghanistanAlso in UK hits back at Hegseth after he questions NATO allies' sacrifices in Afghanistan, Hegseth’s Afghanistan remarks spark backlash from US veterans, allies, Hegseth ‘wrong’ to diminish NATO role in Afghanistan: UK prime minister’s office, No 10 hits back after Trump’s war secretary diminishes UK’s role in Afghanistan, Why Pete Hegseth’s remarks on Nato’s Afghanistan role have drawn UK rebuke and raised fresh questions over US-Europe relations, Hegseth wrong to say most non-US Nato forces in Afghanistan did not fight, says No 10