US Vice President JD Vance has denied disrespecting Britain and France over his comments on a planned European peacekeeping force in Ukraine. Vance’s remarks sparked criticism from politicians and veterans in both countries, who felt he was dishonouring hundreds of troops killed fighting alongside US forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Vance said his comment about 20,000 troops from “a random country that has not fought a war in 30 or 40 years” was taken out of context. He claimed to have never mentioned the UK or France by name and praised their bravery in past conflicts. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described Vance’s comments as “absurdly dishonest”, while French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu defended his country’s veterans.
The controversy erupted after Vance suggested that countries without military experience would struggle to provide meaningful deterrence against Russia, implying that US assistance was necessary. Critics, including UK opposition Conservative Party spokesman James Cartlidge and British veteran Johnny Mercer, took issue with Vance’s tone, labeling him a “clown”. French President Emmanuel Macron’s party also expressed dismay, saying France and Britain’s soldiers who fought alongside Americans deserved better than Vance’s remarks.
Vance’s comments were part of his interview with Fox News, during which he advocated for economic incentives to ensure peace in Ukraine rather than military intervention.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/jd-vance-denies-disrespecting-uk-france-over-ukraine-peacekeeping-force-2025-03-04