Britain and the United States may disagree about how to address the crisis in Gaza but they share a common goal in resolving it, Vice President JD Vance said as he met British Foreign Secretary David Lammy yesterday in southern England.
Vance, who has previously criticised Britain and its governing Labour Party, landed with his wife Usha and their three children in London before heading to Chevening.
The visit comes amid increased attention on Vance’s foreign policy views as he emerges as a key figure in President Donald Trump’s administration and his possible pick as successor.
Asked about Britain’s plan to recognise a Palestinian state, Vance said the US and Britain had a common objective to resolve the crisis in the Middle East, adding: “We may have some disagreements about how exactly to accomplish that goal, and we’ll talk about that today.”
Vance reiterated that the US had no plans to recognise a Palestinian state, saying he did not know what recognition actually meant, “given the lack of a functional government there”.
Britain, by contrast, has taken a harder stance against Israel, declaring its intention to recognise a Palestinian state along with France and Canada to put pressure on Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu over the continuing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Close to Chevening House, a small group of protesters had gathered, some waving Palestinian flags and one holding up a sign showing a meme of Vance.
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