Vance forced into clarification after MPs who served in forces condemn war jibe

The US vice president has been forced to clarify that his criticism of a possible European peacekeeping force in Ukraine was not aimed at the UK or France after a backlash from British politicians and ex-soldiers.
In an interview on Tuesday, JD Vance appeared to downplay the potential of “20,000 troops from some random country that has not fought a war in 30 or 40 years” in monitoring any ceasefire.
His comments were widely perceived to be directed towards the UK and France, who have been leading European efforts to secure a peace deal between Russia and Kyiv.
‘Dishonest’
Later on Tuesday, Mr Vance claimed it was “absurdly dishonest” to suggest he had been referring to either of the countries.
“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,” he said.
During an interview on Fox News, Mr Vance said: “If you want real security guarantees, 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.
“That is a way better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 20 or 30 years.”
The US had been poised to sign a minerals deal with Kyiv last week, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky left the White House empty-handed after a dramatic row in the Oval Office with Mr Vance and Donald Trump.
Some UK politicians and ex-personnel reacted furiously to the vice-president’s remarks.
Liberal Democrat defence spokeswoman Helen Maguire MP, a former Captain in the Royal Military Police who served in Iraq, demanded the UK ambassador to the US, Lord Mandelson, seek an apology from Mr Vance.
“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. This is a sinister attempt to deny that reality.
“As the UK’s representative to the US, Peter Mandelson should call on Vance to apologise for these comments.”
‘Deeply disrespectful’
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge described the remarks as “deeply disrespectful” while Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, said they were “unacceptable”.
“Nato Article 5 has been invoked once – on 12/9/01 by (the US), after 9/11. (Britain and France) came to their aid deploying thousands of personnel to Afghanistan, including my own brother and numerous parliamentary colleagues, past and present,” Mr Cartlidge said.
“It’s deeply disrespectful to ignore such service and sacrifice.”
Mr Obese-Jecty cited Mr Vance’s account in his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, of his own time as a Marine Corps journalist in Iraq, where he said he “was lucky to escape any real fighting”.
The MP for Huntingdon went on: “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.”
Downing Street refused to be drawn on whether Sir Keir Starmer had found the comments insulting or disrespectful but said he was “full of admiration for all British troops who have served, for instance in Iraq and Afghanistan”.
Asked about the remarks, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Many have lost their lives in the process and have fought obviously alongside allies including the United States.
“And it’s very clear that their courage and bravery has helped to ensure global security, defend our values, defend our national interests.
“Our focus, once again, is on how we protect our national interests and global security by progressing the discussions to secure lasting peace for Ukraine.”
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
And Kemi is desperate to defend this bloke aftre what she said in the house yesterday.
47 avoided the draft many times.
Zelenskyy asked for more ammo.
Vice 47 run and hid from protestors when he was skiing.
This Vance turnip and 47 have turned on people fighting for their existence to open to the door to putin.
How is farage anyway, farage says he knows all the people well.
We all heard what he said, it doesn’t matter how many times he tries to clarify what he said we know the truth, which may be a new concept to Vance, the truth.
OZ politician got it right when he described Vance as “a knob”. Like so many Yanks who have never been out of their country, or even state, Vance might not remember the debacles of Iraq and Afghanistan where UK and others foolishly aided the US with boots on the ground.
I think he was out there as a marine journalist…
makes his comments even worse then,
This administration is disrespecting the entire world. They think everything is theirs for the taking and they will say and do anything to make that so. Their twisted words and outright lies have to be called out every time. It all feels like nailing orange jelly to a wall.
American money is too expensive for us. Let’s learn to do without it.
A Leatherneck who writes from the hip, no disrespect to in-house ‘hack’ journalists. but this dude does not stack up…
Don’t expect Starmer to stand up to trump for anyone. He’s trying to be so far up Trumps backside it’s painful to watch
Bit hard when farridge and kemi are in the way.
Starmer is doing a far better job than. the last 5 cons would have.
all I can say is, thank god none of the tories are pm right now, especially johnson, he’s great mates with russia
and these are the countries that stood by the United States 9/11 after article 5 was triggered (including non-NATO allies)….
Albania, Finland, Denmark, United Kingdom, Estonia, France, Australia, Canada, Germany, Belgium, Norway, Italy, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Sweden, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Netherlands, Ukraine, Turkey, Uzbekistan, United Arab Emirates.
JD Vance is an utter disgrace.
I believe that you have to earn respect. This lot of hooligans that are running USA don’t appear to be ‘making America great again’ but they do seem to be having a go at bringing the rest of the world down to their level. Wouldn’t it be good if UK and Europe told them to shut up and come back when they’ve learnt to say something useful?
‘Absurdly dishonest’. His personal motto henceforth.
Apart from the UK and France I cannot see what other country/ies he could be referring to. It’s usually the same ones that take action in any crisis. He’s a liar.