US Vice President JD Vance delivered a fiery speech at the Munich Security Conference, targeting European democracies and claiming that the continent’s greatest threat comes “from within” rather than from external powers like Russia and China. Vance’s remarks, which focused on culture-war issues and migration, diverged sharply from the conference’s usual emphasis on security and defense.
US VP Vance Accuses EU Governments of Ignoring Voter Concerns
Vance criticized European governments, including the UK’s, for retreating from their core values and failing to address voter concerns on migration and free speech. His speech was met with silence in the hall and later denounced by several politicians, including German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who called it “not acceptable.”
Reiterating a key theme of the Trump administration, Vance urged Europe to “step up in a big way to provide for its own defense.” While he briefly mentioned the Ukraine war, expressing hope for a “reasonable settlement,” his speech largely avoided traditional security topics, focusing instead on cultural and political issues.
EU Leaders Push Back Against Vice President Vance’s Claims
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas accused Vance of “trying to pick a fight” with Europe, while former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul described his remarks as “insulting” and “empirically not true.” Vance’s speech singled out several European nations, including the UK, where he criticized a legal case involving an army veteran convicted of silently praying outside an abortion clinic.
Vance Criticizes UK’s Abortion Clinic Safe Zones
Vance highlighted a UK law that establishes 150-meter safe zones around abortion clinics, banning activities such as protests and vigils. He argued that the law threatens the “basic liberties of religious Britons,” sparking debate over the balance between free speech and public safety.
JD Vance Meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
On the sidelines of the conference, Vance met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Zelensky emphasized the need for more planning, while Vance described their conversation as “fruitful.” Despite Trump’s announcement of planned talks involving US, Russian, and Ukrainian officials, Moscow confirmed it would not send a delegation to the summit.
