Police Scotland is preparing for a potential visit to the country by US Vice President JD Vance.

The force said a “significant policing operation” would be deployed for Vance, who is visiting with his family in a private capacity.

It is understood the vice-president could be in Ayrshire later this week.

His arrival comes just weeks after President Donald Trump was in Scotland, where he played golf on his courses in Troon and Aberdeenshire.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Planning is under way for a potential visit to Scotland by the Vice President of the United States.

“Details of any visit would be for the White House to comment on, however it is important that we prepare in advance for what would be a significant policing operation.”

Vance and his family were in Kent last week, where they stayed at Chevening House, the official residence of the foreign secretary, before spending time in the Cotswolds.

On Friday he raised questions about the UK’s plans to recognise a Palestinian state, during a meeting with Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

The two men also went carp fishing together.

Earlier this year the vice-president criticised Scotland over buffer zones which prevent demonstrations or vigils taking place close to abortion clinics.

He used the new law as an example of Europe not protecting free speech enough and used a speech in Munich to claim “even private prayer within their own homes may amount to breaking the law”.

Those comments brought a rebuke from Gillian Mackay, the MSP behind the legislation, who said they were inaccurate.

She said at the time: “This is shocking and shameless misinformation from VP Vance, who is either very badly informed about what my Act has done or he is knowingly misrepresenting it.”

However, Vance has also described himself as a “Scots-Irish hillbilly at heart” in the past, with his ancestors having moved to the Appalachian region more than three centuries ago.