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 dismissed Sir Keir Starmer's offer of UK and French troops to help maintain peace in Ukraine if a deal to end the war is 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 and enforce any peace deal with Russia.
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
The UK and France have indicated readiness to contribute ground troops, with Canada, Italy and Poland as other potential participants.
However, Starmer has clarified that UK troops would not be deployed without security guarantees from the US.
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge responded sharply to Vance, 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."
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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.
Making reference to the US Vice President's tour in Iraq in a communications role, former Veterans' Minister Johnny Mercer wrote on X: "This clown [Vance] needs to check his privilege.
"I read Vance's book making the mistake of finding him quite interesting. By his own admission, he spent his time in the Marines 'writing articles and taking pictures'.
"Perhaps if he had got his hands dirty serving his country like so many of his fellow American and British veterans, chasing his own country’s crazy foreign policy ideas, he might not be so quick to dismiss their sacrifice."
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".
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A spokesman for the PM said Starmer is: "full of admiration for all British troops who have served, you know, 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."
However, they declined to say whether the Prime Minister was personally offended by the VP’s comments.
Lib Dem MP Helen Maguire urged Lord Peter Mandelson (pictured) to 'call on Vance to apologise for these comments'
PA
Addressing the nation, Starmer doubled down on his offer to put British boots on the ground to secure a peace deal in Ukraine
GB NEWS
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also weighed in.
She said: "I know JD Vance quite well. I've looked at the comments, I don't think he actually said that.
"A lot of people are getting carried away. They're saying loads of things and getting quite animated let's keep cool heads.
"America is our closest ally. I believe President Trump and JD Vance want peace, they're looking after their national interest, we need to do so as well."
Later in the Fox 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."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:This is absurdly dishonest.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) March 4, 2025
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. https://t.co/hrkb5pTV8p
Vance's remarks follow President Trump's decision to pause all military aid to Ukraine last night
In an apparent bid to pressure Zelensky into making concessions over the war with Russia, the White House announced an immediate halt on the delivery of ammunition and equipment to Kyiv while "reviewing" assistance to "ensure that it is contributing to a solution".
The US President accused Zelensky of "gambling with World War 3" and claimed he "isn't in a good position right now".
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky clashed at the White House last week in an extraordinary Oval Office meeting
REUTERS
Following Trump's stance shift on Ukraine, a UK Government spokeswoman reaffirmed Britain's commitment to supporting its ally.
"We remain absolutely committed to securing a lasting peace in Ukraine and are engaging with key allies in support of this effort," she said.The UK has pledged £3 billion annually in military aid to Ukraine "for as long as it takes".
Over the weekend, Britain announced it would provide a £2.26billion loan using sanctioned Russian assets.
The Government also established a partnership allowing Ukraine to use £1.6billion of UK Export Finance to purchase 5,000 air defence missiles manufactured in Belfast and put "Ukraine in the strongest possible position for peace".
