US Vice President JD Vance has weighed in on the 'issues' he believes Europe faces, just days after he received backlash for a comment many felt was aimed at the UK.
JD Vance clearly isn't done with dishing out advice, not only warning Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskky of not being 'disrespectful' towards the US during his trip to the White House's Oval Office, but now offering a few choice words to Europe too.
Asked how he sees the US' relationship with Europe, Vance told Fox News: "I really believe we have great deal in common with Europe. And yes the Europeans annoy me sometimes and I disagree with them on certain issues but we have to remember that is the cradle of Western civilisation.
"The entire idea of Christian civilisation that led to the founding of the United States of America, that was formed in Europe - the cultural bonds, the religious bonds - these things are going to last beyond political disagreements."
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However, Vance warned Europe is 'at risk' of 'engaging in civilisational suicide'.
While noting he would've said the US was at risk of doing the same a year ago, Vance continued: "They are unable - or unwilling - too many countries to control their borders. You see them starting to push back against that and that's a good thing.
"You see them starting to limit the free speech of their citizens, even as their citizens are protesting against things like the border invasion that got Donald Trump and a number of European leaders elected."
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He added: "I want Europe to thrive. I want them to be an important ally. Part of that is going to be Europe respecting its own people, respecting its own sovereignty and America can't do that job for them."
Vance later resolved when looking at Europe, the US sees 'a great civilisation' and a 'great ally' but 'also sees some free speech issues' and 'sees that they're doing things on borders which aren't ultimately bad for their countries but are bad for us'.
"Friends can have honest conversations with each other," he went on.
Whether or not he could argue his comments 'about UK troops' were all part of 'friends' having 'honest conversations with each other,' well, others weren't left so convinced.
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While speaking on Fox News on March 4, Vance said: “The president knows that if you want real US 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 from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years."
One Twitter user commented: “JD Vance's claim that the UK hasn't fought a war in 30-40 years insults the 600+ British troops who died in Iraq and Afghanistan alongside Americans.
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“Disrespectful to their sacrifice and our alliance, time for an apology, not ignorance.”
Poppy Bilderbeck