At the Munich Security Conference, US Vice President JD Vance launched a strong critique of European democracies, arguing that the most significant threat to the continent comes from internal governance rather than external adversaries like China or Russia.
Vance directed much of his speech toward European governments, including the UK, accusing them of abandoning their core values and ignoring public concerns over free speech and immigration policies. His remarks were met with silence, and several political figures at the conference later condemned his stance. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius dismissed his speech as “not acceptable.”
Reiterating the Trump administration’s position, Vance emphasized that Europe must take greater responsibility for its defense. His speech also reflected key themes from Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, shifting the focus from traditional security discussions to cultural and ideological debates.
The US vice president accused EU officials of stifling free speech, criticized mass migration policies, and suggested that European leaders had strayed from their foundational principles. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas interpreted Vance’s remarks as an attempt to provoke confrontation with Europe, which remains home to some of the US’s closest allies.
Former US ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, also weighed in, calling Vance’s claims “insulting” and factually inaccurate.
Throughout his speech, Vance singled out several European nations, including the UK, citing a case involving an army veteran convicted for silently praying outside an abortion clinic. He argued that such policies posed a threat to religious freedoms.
Vance also referenced Germany’s political climate, particularly the long-standing refusal of mainstream parties to collaborate with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). He questioned the legitimacy of such political barriers, stating, “Democracy rests on the sacred principle that the voice of the people matters. There’s no room for firewalls. You either uphold the principle or you don’t.”
Alice Weidel, AfD’s candidate for chancellor, later shared portions of Vance’s speech on social media, praising his statements. Reports from German public broadcaster ZDF indicate that the two had a private meeting following the speech.
Romania was another focus of Vance’s address, as he mentioned the country’s annulled presidential election, which US intelligence alleges was influenced by Russian interference. However, he downplayed such concerns, stating, “If your democracy can be destroyed with a few hundred thousand dollars in digital ads from a foreign country, then it wasn’t very strong to begin with.”
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu responded, emphasizing his nation’s commitment to upholding democratic values shared with the US. He reassured that Romanian officials are dedicated to ensuring free and fair elections.
On the sidelines of the conference, Vance also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the ongoing conflict with Russia. Zelensky stressed the need for further planning to end the war, while Vance described their exchange as “fruitful.”
Despite former President Trump’s assertion that representatives from the US, Russia, and Ukraine would meet in Munich, Moscow has confirmed that it will not be sending a delegation.
