U.S. Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that Washington and London hold differing views on how to address the Gaza crisis but stressed that both nations share the same overarching objectives in the region. Speaking at the start of a meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy in Sevenoaks, southern England, Vance said the two allies would discuss their approaches during the talks. The comments came as Britain has signaled its intention to recognise Palestine, a move the United States has ruled out.
Vance, accompanied by his wife Usha and their three children, arrived in London before heading to Chevening, the stately country residence of the British foreign minister. In a cordial exchange before the media, Lammy suggested the vice president take a coastal walk in Kent, while Vance declared his “love” for Britain. Asked about the UK’s recognition plan, Vance reiterated Washington’s stance that it would not acknowledge a Palestinian state, citing the absence of a functional government in the territory.
Britain’s position contrasts sharply with that of the United States. London, along with France and Canada, has committed to recognising Palestine in an effort to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the ongoing conflict and worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. This marks a tougher line against Israel than Washington’s approach, which has focused on other diplomatic channels while resisting formal recognition.
The meeting also carried a lighter tone, as Vance and Lammy spent part of the day fishing in the lake behind Chevening House. Wearing casual blue shirts, the two joked with reporters, with Vance teasing that all his children caught fish while Lammy did not. Lammy later posted on X that the vice president had given him “fishing tips, Kentucky style.” Following their stay at Chevening, the Vance family is set to visit the Cotswolds, a countryside region famed for its beauty and favored by celebrities and political figures alike.