Several British politicians from opposition parties have turned on US Vice President J.D. Vance, who said in an interview with Fox News that the US share in the development of Ukrainian minerals was a more reliable guarantee of security than "20,000 soldiers from some random country that hasn't been at war for 30-40 years".
Given that only Britain and France have so far expressed a willingness to provide large contingents of troops, British politicians took this remark personally.
"It is deeply disrespectful to disregard our service and sacrifice," wrote Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge in X.
Johnny Mercer, also a Conservative and former Under-Secretary for Veterans Affairs, called Vance a clown.
Liberal Democrat Helen Maguire, a retired military police captain who served in Bosnia, wrote that Vance was "erasing from history the hundreds of British soldiers who gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan".
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 responded to the X criticism: "This is ridiculous and unfair. — he wrote on Elon Musk's social media platform — In this video I don't even mention Britain or France, who have bravely fought side by side with the US for the past 20 years and beyond."