In a powerful statement at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Vice President JD Vance criticized Western allies for free speech violations and religious rights.
Vance mainly criticized America’s allies for never upholding religious freedom, despite making a few flimsy remarks about the conflict.
” The risk that I worry the most about vis a vis Europe is not Russia, it’s no China, it’s not any other additional actor”, Vance said. And what I worry about is the danger coming from within, the surrender of Europe from some of its most basic principles, values that the United States of America shares.
The vice president cited a number of instances that piqued his interest, including Romania’s legal court’s decision to annul the country’s national election last month, Brussels’s notice that users of social media may be prohibited from using them during times of civil turmoil, the United Kingdom’s prosecution of a person for silently praying outside an abortion clinic, and Sweden’s government’s prosecution of a Christian activist for engaging in Quran burnings.
” We’ve been told for years that everyone we portfolio and help is done in the name of our shared democratic ideals, and everything we do, from our Ukraine policy to digital repression, is marketed as a protection of democracy,” Vance said. We should consider whether we are holding ourselves to an appropriately higher standard when we see Western courts cancel elections and top officials threaten to withdraw others. We say ourselves because we firmly believe that we are all one team.
Vance also criticised the Biden administration for threatening and deceiving social media companies to “censor so-called propaganda,” such as the COVID-19 epidemic lab leak idea, but he claimed the Trump presidency would be different.
” In Washington, there is a new sheriff in city”, the vice president said. ” And under Donald Trump’s authority, we may disagree with your opinions, but we will fight to defend your right to offer it in the open circle, agree or disagree”.
Vance’s speech in Munich more drew attention to President Donald Trump’s requires that NATO allies boost support for Ukraine because he adheres to his America First philosophy.
You both came these prepared to discuss how specifically you intend to boost defence spending over the next few years in line with some new goals, Vance said.” Now this is a security conference. That’s great that, as President Trump has abundantly demonstrated, he thinks our German friends need to have a bigger influence on the future of this continent.
” We don’t believe you hear this phrase ‘ problem discussing,’ “he continued”. However, we believe that stepping up while America concentrates on areas of the world that are in great risk is a crucial component of being in a shared empire.
Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, resulting in the two countries agreeing , to” begin discussions quickly” to stop Russia’s war in Ukraine. Trump had a conversation with Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, the same day.
On Friday, Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are scheduled to meet with Zelensky in Munich. After saying on Wednesday that he does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement, Defense Secretary , Pete Hegseth reacted to European concerns that the United States is retreating on its support of Ukraine.
The vice president claimed that the United States would impose sanctions and military action on Moscow if Putin did not agree to the terms of the peace treaty and guarantee Kyiv’s independence before Vance’s speech at the security conference.
Vance’s team denied the reporting, claiming it was” pure fake news” and published excerpts of the interview.
” The Vice President didn’t make any threats,” Vance spokesman William Martin wrote”. He simply stated that as these negotiations begin, no one will have any other choices for President Trump.
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The vice president’s roughly 20-minute speech ended with him making a joke at the expense of two well-known, if controversial, figures.
” I say this with all humor: If American democracy can survive 10 years of Greta Thunberg’s scolding, you guys can survive a few months of Elon Musk,” Vance said.
