JD Vance accused of ‘insulting’ memories of British soldiers who died in Iraq and Afghanistan
Donald Trump’s deputy lashed out at a proposed Ukraine peace-keeping force led by the UK and France as ‘20,000 troops from some random country that has not fought a war in 30 or 40 years’
US Vice President JD Vance has been accused of “insulting” the memories of British troops who died in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting alongside US soldiers.
Former British defence minister Lord Beamish criticised Mr Vance, who was pushing the idea of a deal to let America gain access to Ukraine’s mineral wealth, after he belittled a planned peace-keeping force for the war-torn country to be led by the UK and France.
“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,” Mr Vance told Fox News.
“That is a way better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that has not fought a war in 30 or 40 years.”
But Kevan Jones, who was North Durham MP before being elevated to the Upper Chamber as Lord Beamish, condemned the remark.
He told The Standard: “This type of talk isn’t helpful and will be insulting and very hurtful to the memories of those who died and still suffer today from injuries from Iraq and Afghanistan and who fought alongside American forces.”
Liberal Democrat defence spokesperson Helen Maguire, a former Captain in the Royal Military Police who served in Iraq, said: “JD Vance is erasing from history the hundreds of British troops who gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
She added: “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. This is a sinister attempt to deny that reality.”
More than 450 British armed forces personnel died in Afghanistan over the 20 years since the US-led invasion after the 2001 September 11 terror attacks on America.
It is the only time that Nato’s Article V mutual defence agreement has been evoked.
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