Recent comments made by U.S. Vice President JD Vance have ignited a considerable backlash from British veterans and politicians following his description of the UK as “some random country that hasn't fought a war in 30 or 40 years.” Vance's remarks came during an interview with Fox News, where he discussed security guarantees regarding Ukraine, stating, “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.”
The comments, aired on March 4, 2025, swiftly drew criticism for seemingly overlooking the UK's military contributions, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan. Helen Maguire, a Liberal Democrat MP and former captain in the Royal Military Police who has served in Iraq, voiced her outrage, asserting that Vance was “erasing from history the hundreds of British troops who gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.” She argued that it was “a sinister attempt to deny that reality” of the sacrifices made by British and American soldiers in joint operations.
Former Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer, who also served as a commando in Afghanistan, echoed this sentiment by urging Vance to “wind his neck in” and “show a bit of respect.” Mercer characterised Vance’s remarks as disrespectful, suggesting that the vice president should reconsider his perspective regarding the contributions made by military personnel.
Ben McBean, an Afghanistan veteran who suffered severe injuries while serving, expressed anger at Vance’s comments, labelling them as out of order. “It’s really disrespectful. Over 600 people died. That means there must be over 1,000 injured, then you have just got someone dismissing it,” McBean stated in an interview.
Even as criticism surged, Vance attempted to clarify his statements, asserting that he did not specifically mention the UK or France. In a follow-up post on social media, he elaborated, “But let’s be direct: there are many countries who are volunteering support who have neither the battlefield experience nor the military equipment to do anything meaningful.” However, his initial comments had already given the impression that he was dismissing the contributions of nations such as the UK and France, both of which have publicly indicated a willingness to contribute troops to a potential peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
The incident has sparked wider discussions, with Conservative shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge pointing out that both the UK and France deployed forces in Afghanistan following NATO’s invocation of Article 5 after the 9/11 attacks. He described Vance’s comments as “deeply disrespectful to ignore such service and sacrifice.”
Media figures also reacted to Vance’s remarks, with broadcaster Nick Ferrari labelling him “dumb” and “aggressive,” emphasising the significant sacrifices made by British forces alongside American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Similarly, Andrew Neil, a veteran broadcaster, expressed disdain over Vance's dismissive portrayal of the UK, questioning whether Vance was simply ignorant of the historical military partnerships.
As tensions continue to mount surrounding Vance's statements, the ongoing discourse reflects not only on the relationships between countries involved in military alliances but also raises questions about accountability and recognition of sacrifices made by service personnel across nations.
Source: Noah Wire Services