Vance tells troops Trump is committed to peace in Europe

Vice President JD Vance delivered a clear message to American troops stationed in the United Kingdom on Tuesday: peace in Europe is possible, and President Donald Trump is making it his personal mission to achieve it.

Speaking to service members at Royal Air Force Base Fairford, Vance emphasized that America’s strength is the foundation of any successful diplomatic effort. "The president of the United States came in six months ago, and I just talked to him right before I came on stage," Vance said. "He said very simply that we are going to make it our mission as an administration to bring peace to Europe once again."

But that mission, he noted, relies on the deterrent power of the U.S. military.

“It isn’t possible to bring peace anywhere unless the bad guys are also worried that we’ve got a hell of a fine Air Force and a hell of a fine military to back up the peace to begin with.”

The remarks come just days before Trump’s scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska. The meeting, which will take place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, is intended to be a “feel-out” session as Trump explores the possibility of brokering a ceasefire in Ukraine.

This marks a sharp contrast to the Biden administration, which sent over $175 billion to Ukraine with little accountability and no results. After three years of Biden’s reckless escalation, the war still drags on with hundreds of thousands dead and no diplomatic progress in sight.

Unlike his predecessor, Trump understands that real peace doesn’t come from endless foreign aid and empty statements it comes from strong leadership and leverage.

Vance made it clear the troops give Trump that leverage.

“You guys are the reason why we have leverage in these conversations with world leaders,” Vance told the servicemen and women. “Because they know that if we cut a deal, it is backed up by the finest fighting force anywhere in the world.”

The Vice President also highlighted other international successes from Trump’s first months back in office, pointing to reduced tensions in hotspots like:

• Rwanda and the Congo, where proxy conflict has been de-escalated

• Serbia and Kosovo, where leaders resumed dialogue

• Cambodia and Thailand, where Trump helped restore bilateral coordination

Vance, who met with several European leaders earlier in the day, underscored the importance of Friday’s meeting with Putin. “In just a couple of days, the president is headed to Anchorage, Alaska, to try to achieve an end to this terrible war in Russia and Ukraine. You guys make that possible.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed that sentiment earlier Tuesday, defending the president’s decision to meet with Putin despite critics' claims. “For President Trump, a meeting is not a concession,” Rubio explained. “It’s how you gather facts. He wants to look this guy in the eye and size him up. That’s what real leadership looks like.”

Indeed, Trump’s strength isn’t just military it’s strategic. After all, this is the same president who brokered the Abraham Accords, ended ISIS’s territorial control, and negotiated peace deals in regions career diplomats couldn’t touch for decades.

This upcoming meeting could mark the beginning of the end for the bloodshed in Ukraine something the Biden administration had no interest in achieving.

Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for updates with someone who’s ready for peace through strength, not endless wars and weak leadership.