JD Vance has been branded ‘deeply disrespectful’ after he dismissed Britain’s military contributions amid a quickly developing transatlantic row between the UK and US over Ukraine aid.
British politicians have demanded an apology from the US Vice President after he brushed off Sir Keir Starmer’s offer of a force of UK and French troops to keep the peace in Ukraine should a deal to end the war be reached.
Speaking to Fox News, Vance said the offer amounted to “20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years”.
Vance continued by criticising the Prime Minister’s proposal for a “coalition of the willing” announced on Sunday to secure Ukraine.
Speaking to Fox News, Vance said the offer amounted to ‘20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years’
REUTERS
James Cartlidge branded Vance’s comments as ‘deeply disrespectful’
PA
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge responded sharply, pointing out that Nato’s Article 5 has only been invoked once – by the US after the 9/11 attacks.
He wrote on X: “And [Britain] came to their aid deploying 1,000s of personnel to Afghanistan, including my own brother and numerous parliamentary colleagues, past and present.”
“It’s deeply disrespectful to ignore such service & sacrifice.”
MPs from across the political spectrum also accused Vance of disregarding the hundreds of British troops who fought and died alongside American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Lib Dem MP Helen Maguire, a former Captain in the Royal Military Police who served in Iraq, condemned Vance’s remarks as erasing British military sacrifices.
“JD Vance is erasing from history the hundreds of British troops who gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan,” she said.
“I saw firsthand how American and British soldiers fought bravely together shoulder to shoulder. Six of my own regiment, the Royal Military Police, didn’t return home from Iraq.”
She described Vance’s comments as “a sinister attempt to deny that reality” before urging Britain’s US ambassador Peter Mandelson to “call on Vance to apologise for these comments”.
Lib Dem MP Helen Maguire urged Lord Peter Mandelson (pictured) to ‘call on Vance to apologise for these comments’
PA
Later in the interview, Vance criticised Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky for showing “a clear unwillingness to engage in the peace process”.
The Vice President suggested that a minerals deal giving the US economic stake in Ukraine would offer more effective protection than military support.
“That is a way better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years,” Vance said.
Hitting back at critics for calling out his dismissal of British and French troops, Vance appeared to gaslight the world press by claiming he never “mentioned the UK or France” in the clip despite the two countries being the only ones to have pledged troops.
Vance wrote on X in response to the criticism: “This is absurdly dishonest.
“I don’t even mention the UK or France in the clip, both of whom have fought bravely alongside the US over the last 20 years, and beyond.”
