US Vice President
JD Vance
on Tuesday rejected claims that he was singling out France and Britain when he dismissed the military capabilities of countries proposing a European peacekeeping force in
Ukraine
. His clarification came after a wave of backlash from British and French officials over his comments on Fox News, where he mocked the idea of sending “20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years.”
Vance: “Never mentioned France or Britain”
After facing sharp criticism from London and Paris, Vance took to X to clarify his remarks, insisting that he had never named France or Britain in his statement. “Both countries have fought bravely alongside the US over the last 20 years, and beyond,” he posted, attempting to calm the growing diplomatic storm.
However, Vance also doubled down on his skepticism about an Anglo-French-led peacekeeping effort, questioning whether other nations proposing to join had the battlefield experience or military equipment to make a meaningful impact. “There are many countries volunteering support who have neither the experience nor the capability to do anything meaningful,” he said.
Fallout and reactions
Despite Vance’s clarification, British lawmakers remained incensed. Tory MP James Cartlidge reminded Vance that
NATO
’s collective defense clause had been invoked only once—after 9/11—and that British forces had stood with the US in every major conflict since. “It’s deeply disrespectful to ignore such service and sacrifice,” he said.
Liberal Democrat MP Helen Maguire, a former Royal Military Police captain, accused Vance of erasing history. “I saw firsthand how American and British troops fought together. Six from my regiment never came home.”
Trump’s Ukraine stance overshadows debate
The controversy over Vance’s remarks coincides with President Donald Trump’s decision to freeze all US
military aid
to Ukraine. The White House has framed the move as part of a broader “review” of US commitments, but European allies fear it is a pressure tactic to force Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into territorial concessions with
Russia
.
With tensions high, UK Prime Minister
Keir Starmer
reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to Ukraine, emphasizing that “securing a lasting peace” remains a top priority. Meanwhile,
European leaders
scramble to adjust to a shifting geopolitical landscape, as Trump and Vance appear increasingly wary of further entanglement in the region.
While Vance insists he was not specifically targeting France or Britain, his remarks have only deepened the rift between the US and its European allies—raising fresh concerns about the future of NATO and Western unity in the face of Russian aggression.