British PM Keir Starmer hits back at JD Vance over troop ‘insult’

JD Vance’s insults of British and French troops prompted the British PM to pointedly honour war heroes from the recent Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaking during the weekly session of Prime Minister's Questions. Picture: AFP

British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has pointedly promised the country will never forget the bravery of British soldiers who died in Iraq and Afghanistan following remarks of US Vice President JD Vance who suggested Britain hadn’t fought a war in the past 40 years.

After Britain and France had committed peacekeepers to Ukraine in the event of any future peace deal with Russia, Mr Vance sparked a diplomatic furore when he told Fox News earlier this week: “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 that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years.”

British newspapers and commentators immediately ridiculed Mr Vance, accusing him of being ignorant of the most recent wartime histories.

The Daily Express splashed “Clown Vance’s slur on 636 war heroes” across its front page. LBC radio commentator Nick Ferrari said “Wow. A Vice-President who is as dumb as he is aggressive.”

British soldiers, including Prince Harry, in Afghanistan in 2008. Picture: John Stillwell

Mr Vance later appeared to backtrack on what he said, writing on X: “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.”

However, he added: “Let’s be direct: there are many countries who are volunteering (privately or publicly) support who have neither the battlefield experience nor the military equipment to do anything meaningful.”

It was unclear which countries Mr Vance was referring to, as only Britain and France have publicly committed to providing such peacekeepers.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he may be open to considering a request to provide peacekeepers, but like France and the UK, Australia was also heavily active in Afghanistan.

At the start of Prime Minister’s Questions in Westminster on Wednesday, Sir Keir gave tributes to seven British soldiers who died fighting in Afghanistan and noted how hundreds had given the ultimate sacrifice in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

He said: “Tomorrow marks 13 years since six young British soldiers were on patrol in Afghanistan when their vehicle was struck by an explosive, tragically killing them all.

“Tomorrow also marks the 18th anniversary of the death of Benjamin Reddy, a 22-year-old serving with 42 Commando Royal Marines, killed in Helmand Province in 2007.

“These men fought and died for their country, our country, and across the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, 642 individuals died fighting for Britain alongside our allies.

US Vice President JD Vance arrives for President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress. Picture: AFP

“Many more were wounded. We will never forget their bravery and their sacrifice and I know the whole House will join me in remembering them and all who served our country.”

France sent 70,000 troops to Afghanistan, and 89 were killed. France has also joined the Royal Navy in helping the United States keep the Red Sea shipping lanes open near Yemen.

French defence minister Sébastien Lecornu, said it was fortunate that Mr Vance had corrected his statement and insisted the French soldiers who had died in recent conflicts “deserve our respect and the respect of our allies.”

Mr Vance’s comments come just days after the very public spat in the White House last Friday between himself, president Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky.

Mr Zelensky was then warmly embraced by Sir Keir and other European leaders the following day and the Ukrainian leader appears to have widespread support from the British public.

Mr Vance also irritated European leaders with an inflammatory speech about freedoms at the Munich Security Conference last month.