J.D. Vance accused of ‘disrespect’ to British soldiers

As if transatlantic relations couldn’t get any worse. Barely seventy-two hours after the Oval Office bust-up, the Trump administration announced that the US had suspended all military aid to Ukraine — a move that caught much of the West off guard. Now UK politicians of all stripes have hit out at J.D. Vance, after the vice president made some rather ill-judged comments on Fox News…

Speaking to the broadcaster, Vance insisted that “if you want to actually ensure that Vladimir Putin does not invade Ukraine again, the very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine.” But the VP didn’t stop there. Going on, Vance remarked: “That is a way better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in thirty or forty years.”

Naturally this has not gone down too well in Britain, given its role in Iraq and Afghanistan. As shadow defense secretary James Cartlidge was quick to point out, both Britain and France came to the US’s aid after IT invoked NATO Article 5 clause post-9/11. Lib Dem Member of Parliament Mike Martin told the Daily Express that Vance’s comments were “deeply offensive’” while Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty took to X to blast the VP for his “disrespect,” noting: 

I was part of British forces fighting in highly kinetic operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the latter in response to Article 5 following 9/11. The disrespect shown by the new US vice president to the sacrifices of our service personnel is unacceptable.

The prime minister’s spokesperson has issued a rather pointed statement — noting that Sir Keir Starmer “is full of admiration for all British troops who have served, for instance, in Iraq and Afghanistan, many of whom have lost their lives in the process and have obviously served alongside allies, including the United States.”

Meanwhile British ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, has been urged to condemn Vance’s comments. For his part, Vance insists the insinuation he was speaking about the UK is “absurdly dishonest,” acknowledging that Britain “fought bravely alongside the US over the last twenty years.” Whether that will be enough to smooth over strains in the special relationship remains to be seen…

Watch the clip here: