Vance: UK and US have common goal

JD Vance said the US and UK have "disagreements" over how to respond to the crisis in Gaza but share a “common” goal to end the war as he met David Lammy for talks on the Middle East and Ukraine.

- PRESS ASSOCIATION REPORTERS

Appearing alongside the Foreign Secretary on Friday, the vice-president confirmed Washington had “no plans” to recognise Palestine - which Britain has pledged to do unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire.

Mr Vance, who has previously accused the UK of retreating from democratic values, struck a more positive chord as he spoke of his “love” for the country during a visit to Chevening, Mr Lammy’s grace-and-favour retreat in Kent.

He heaped praise on his “good friend” the Foreign Secretary, and said Britain and the US should work together to “bring greater peace” to the world as the two countries “have a lot in common”.

However, he made clear that there were differences of opinion between the two administrations on how to address the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Asked by reporters at the top of a bilateral meeting with Mr Lammy what he thought of the UK’s plans to recognise Palestine, Mr Vance said: “Obviously, the United Kingdom is going to make its decision.

“We have no plans to recognise a Palestinian state. I don’t know what it would mean to really recognise a Palestinian state given the lack of functional government there.”