"Embarrassing and pathetic." The American minister took aim at allies, sharp reactions also came from the Czech Republic.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized the role of allied nations in the Afghanistan war, claiming only one or two countries actively participated in combat operations. His remarks drew condemnation from various officials, including those from the UK, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka emphasized the need for respect towards fallen soldiers, while former Defense Minister Jana Černochová expressed outrage over Hegseth's comments, highlighting the sacrifices made by Czech troops. Polish officials also reacted strongly, with Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski urging Hegseth to address the families of Polish soldiers who died in Afghanistan. Hegseth's comments were made during a speech at the University of Tennessee, where he downplayed the contributions of other nations in the NATO mission.