U.S. Vice President JD Vance criticized European leaders on Friday for suppressing free speech and failing to manage immigration, sparking a strong rebuttal from Germany's defense minister and diverting attention from discussions on the Ukraine war. The annual Munich Security Conference had been expected to focus on potential peace talks following a recent call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. However, Vance barely addressed Russia or Ukraine in his speech, instead emphasizing what he described as Europe's retreat from core values like free speech and its struggle with "out of control" immigration.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius strongly rejected Vance's comments later in the day, calling them "unacceptable" and arguing that Vance had undermined confidence in democracy not only in Germany but across Europe. This clash highlighted the growing divide between Trump's administration and European leaders, complicating efforts to find common ground on critical issues like Ukraine. Many attendees at the conference listened to Vance's speech in stunned silence, with little applause following his remarks.
After his speech, Vance met with Alice Weidel, the leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, a move likely to draw criticism as it comes just ahead of Germany's federal elections. The AfD, known for its anti-immigration stance, is under surveillance by German security services for suspected right-wing extremism and is currently polling at around 20%.
Trump's recent call with Putin has alarmed European governments, which have sought to isolate the Russian president since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. European leaders fear being excluded from peace talks that could have significant implications for their security.
Vance, who met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Munich, suggested in a pre-conference interview with the *Wall Street Journal* that Trump could use economic and military leverage in negotiations with Putin. However, Vance's spokesperson later disputed the newspaper's characterization of his remarks as a threat to Russia.
Zelenskiy, speaking at the conference, stated that he would only engage in talks with Putin once Ukraine, Trump, and European leaders had agreed on a unified plan. He reiterated Ukraine's need for "real security guarantees." German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned against imposing a peace deal on Ukraine, emphasizing that a "sham peace" would not bring lasting security for Ukraine, Europe, or the United States.
Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukraine nearly three years after its full-scale invasion, which it justified by claiming Ukraine's pursuit of NATO membership posed an existential threat. Ukraine and the West have condemned Russia's actions as imperialist aggression.
Vance also echoed Trump's call for Europe to take greater responsibility for its defense, allowing the U.S. to focus on other regions, particularly the Indo-Pacific. In a meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Vance stated, "In the future, we think Europe is going to have to take a bigger role in its security."
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte agreed, emphasizing the need for Europe to "step up" its defense efforts and increase spending. Several European leaders at the conference echoed this sentiment, though they also stressed the importance of coordinating with Washington on a gradual reduction of U.S. support.
Before meeting with the AfD leader, Vance appeared to endorse the party as a legitimate political partner, seemingly challenging the stance of Germany's major political parties, which refused to collaborate with the AfD. The AfD's rise in the polls and its controversial positions have made it a focal point of debate in Germany, particularly with billionaire U.S. businessman Elon Musk, a major Trump donor, publicly backing the party. Musk, who now heads Trump's task force to cut U.S. government spending, has also expressed support for the AfD, further complicating the political landscape.
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