JD Vance Honors U.S. Troops in UK: ‘You Guys Are the Reason We Stand Strong’

Vice President JD Vance recently visited American troops stationed in the United Kingdom. Speaking at the Royal Air Force Base (RAF) Fairford, Vance expressed gratitude for the troops’ role in aiding negotiations between the U.S. administration and world leaders.

The Vice President addressed airmen from the U.S. Air Force’s 501st Combat Support Wing and the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron. He highlighted the enduring alliance between the United States and Britain, which has remained steadfast over the last century.

Vance expressed, “So I want to say for all of us back home in the United States, for all the people that you serve with, that you fight for, that you make it possible to live the American dream and peace and prosperity, We are proud of ya. We are grateful to you. And as your vice president, I am proud to be with you today. God bless every single one of you.”

Vice President Vance emphasized the administration’s goal to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He expressed his gratitude to the soldiers in attendance and those stationed around the globe for making this goal attainable.

In his address, he stated, “So what you guys do, even though you may not see it every single day, is you make it possible, you make it possible to accomplish the president’s goals through negotiations. You make it possible for us to go into a room and say, ‘Yes, we want peace. Yes, we want to work together. Yes, we’d like to bring an end to this terrible conflict.’”

Vance concluded by praising the U.S. military as the “envy of the world” due to the courage and commitment of its servicemen and servicewomen. He underscored the troops’ vital role in maintaining the peace, prosperity, and safety of their fellow Americans.

During his visit, the Vice President was received enthusiastically by the troops. Images from the event show him shaking hands with military personnel and interacting with their families. At one point, he distributed McDonald’s to the crowd.

The Vice President’s trip to the U.K. precedes President Trump’s upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where they will discuss an end to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict. This raises important questions about the role our troops abroad may play in these negotiations and the outcomes they may yield.