US VICE President JD Vance has sparked uproar after branding Britain “some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years”.
Some 636 Brits died fighting alongside the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan, with the comments branded “deeply offensive.”
JD Vance sparked uproar for his comments[/caption]
Donald Trump’s deputy made the remarks while pressing Volodymyr Zelensky to sign a minerals deal following their extraordinary dust-up in the Oval Office last week.
And he also appeared to dismiss Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge to station peacekeeping troops in Ukraine following any ceasefire deal with Russia.
Mr Vance told Fox News: “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 30 or 40 years.”
British soldiers served alongside America in both the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, and 639 personnel died.
Former Armed Forces Minister and veteran James Heappey hit back at Mr Vance’s “sad” interpretation of history today.
He said: “Serving with America and France were defining moments of my military career.
“Visiting British, American and French joint ops around the world – highlights of my ministerial career… Sad to hear the relationship reduced to this.”
Branding the comments “deeply offensive”, Lib Dem MP and former major Mike Martin said: “I’ve been under fire with American soldiers in Afghanistan – a war we joined to support them after 9/11.”
His party colleague Helen Maguire – a former captain – added: “JD Vance is erasing from history the hundreds of British troops who gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“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.”
Labour MP David Taylor said: “This great nation has proudly fought shoulder to shoulder with our US allies, with 457 service men and women killed defending freedom in Afghanistan alone.
“These shameful remarks will never undo their sacrifice or the gratitude this nation has for their defence of British values.”
It echoed a tidal wave of backlash in the UK to his remarks on social media.
Broadcaster Josh Howie piled in: “Hundreds of British soldiers have died over the last two decades supporting your country in your wars.
“Your utter disrespect, dismissal, and disregard for their sacrifice because it doesn’t suit your present narrative is sickening.”
It came as Mr Trump today halted all US military aid to Ukraine for the foreseeable future.
The US has now paused aid to the war-torn country until Zelensky’s government shows a commitment to peace negotiations, a senior Trump administration official told Fox News.
The official said: “This is not permanent termination of aid, it’s a pause.”
Trump’s move might have an immediate impact on Ukrainian stockpiles, though some experts believe the country has enough weapons to fight until the summer at its current level.
It will affect all American military equipment not delivered to Ukraine, including weapons in transit and currently in Poland.
The directive also suspends funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which uses US monies to purchase new gear.
On Monday, Trump said that Zelensky “will not be around very long” unless he agrees to America’s terms on a peace deal.
He told reporters at the White House: “It should not be that hard a deal to make.
“It could be made very fast. Now, maybe somebody doesn’t want to make a deal, and if somebody doesn’t want to make a deal, I think that person won’t be around very long.
“That person will not be listened to very long.”
It comes just hours after the US President blasted Zelensky in a Truth Social post saying “this guy doesn’t want there to be peace”.
Trump was responding to a quote from the Ukrainian leader in which he said an end to the conflict with Russia is still “very, very far away”.
The Republican firebrand described his quotes as the “worst statement that could have been made”.
His post continued: “America will not put up with it for much longer.
