British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that the bravery of British soldiers who died in Iraq and Afghanistan will never be forgotten, responding to US Vice-President JD Vance’s controversial remark suggesting Britain hadn’t fought a war in 40 years. Vance’s comments, made during a Fox News interview, sparked outrage when he implied that countries like Britain and France lacked recent wartime experience and questioned their ability to provide meaningful security guarantees for Ukraine. British media and commentators criticized Vance, with headlines like “Clown Vance’s slur on 636 war heroes” and accusations of ignorance about recent military history.
Vance later clarified on social media that he did not specifically mention the UK or France, acknowledging their contributions alongside the US in recent conflicts. However, he reiterated that some countries offering support lacked sufficient battlefield experience or military equipment. Only Britain and France have publicly committed to sending peacekeepers to Ukraine in the event of a future peace deal with Russia.
Starmer paid tribute to British soldiers who died in Afghanistan and Iraq, highlighting their sacrifices and reaffirming the nation’s respect for their bravery. France also defended its military contributions, with Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu noting that French soldiers who died in recent conflicts deserve respect. Vance’s remarks followed tensions with European leaders, including a contentious speech at the Munich Security Conference, and a public disagreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who received strong support from Britain and other European nations.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/british-pm-keir-starmer-hits-back-at-jd-vance-over-troop-insult/news-story/78ff3ee974a66db9c2ac00c3acdb79ab
