# Poland-US diplomatic tension over Afghanistan mission > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/poland-us-diplomatic-tension-over-afghanistan-mission > Updated: 2026-10-20T10:37:09.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 2. Tensions rose between Poland and the United States following remarks by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth regarding NATO's mission in Afghanistan. Hegseth suggested that while many nations were represented at NATO headquarters in Kabul, only one or two countries were actively involved in combat operations toward the end of the mission. He also referenced a military joke implying the ISAF acronym stood for ‘I Saw Americans Fighting.’ Polish officials responded with sharp criticism. Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski challenged Hegseth to address the families of the 44 Polish soldiers killed while securing the Ghazni province, while Jan Grabiec, Chief of the Prime Minister’s Chancellery, demanded an apology for mocking shared sacrifices. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk further defended the nation's military commitment, stating that Poland has consistently stood “shoulder-to-shoulder” with its allies. During a government meeting, Tusk read a message from a female veteran describing the medical aid provided to Americans using Polish supplies, emphasizing that the sacrifices of Polish personnel should not be disregarded. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-20: Donald Tusk defends Polish soldiers' contribution to Afghanistan mission Prime Minister Donald Tusk defended the Polish military's role in Afghanistan, responding to U.S. Pentagon comments by highlighting Poland's loyalty and sacrifices alongside its allies. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/donald-tusk-defends-polish-soldiers-contribution-to-afghanistan-mission ### 2026-10-18: Radosław Sikorski responds to Pete Hegseth's remarks on NATO in Afghanistan Polish officials, including FM Radosław Sikorski, criticized U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for downplaying NATO ally contributions and joking about the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/poland-criticizes-us-defense-secretary-over-afghanistan-remarks --- Cite as: Poland-US diplomatic tension over Afghanistan mission. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/poland-us-diplomatic-tension-over-afghanistan-mission