In his speech delivered at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) U.S. Vice President JD Vance explicitly highlighted the ideological rift between the United States and Europe. He criticized the progressive values embraced by mainstream European nations, arguing that they have contributed to a range of contradictions and challenges. These issues span several areas, including immigration, democracy, and freedom of speech. Vance pointed to specific examples, such as the arrest and sentencing of individuals in the UK who were praying outside abortion clinics with Bibles, Germany’s government creating a "firewall" that discriminates against the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, and the EU’s annulment of Romania’s legitimate election results. He further argued that freedom of speech in Europe is in decline, adding that “to many of us on the other side of the Atlantic, it looks more and more like old entrenched interests hiding behind ugly Soviet-era words like misinformation and disinformation”.
Vance’s speech came at a time when an Afghan immigrant drove a car into a crowd in Munich, causing numerous casualties. Additionally, Vance had privately met with the leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), Tino Chrupalla, ahead of the upcoming elections. As a result, Vance’s remarks in Munich effectively laid bare the significant ideological divide between the U.S. and Europe, highlighting that the two are on different paths with fundamentally divergent values.
Vance’s trip to Europe shocked many Europeans. First, he gave an interview to The Wall Street Journal, during which a journalist intentionally misrepresented his words, claiming that the U.S. would send troops to Ukraine. In reality, Vance’s original statement only suggested that the U.S. would not rule out using “economic and military tools of leverage” with the latter referring to military aid. The Wall Street Journal mixed the reporter's commentary with Vance’s quoted remarks, causing significant global confusion. Subsequently, a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vance and Senator Marco Rubio also collapsed. Zelenskyy refused to sign an agreement concerning rare earth minerals, despite having previously proposed such an agreement in an interview with the Associated Press. From photos taken during the talks, it was clear that the negotiations were tense, with both sides in a standoff: Vance appeared as if slamming the table with his hand, Rubio had his fists clenched, and the American side’s frustration was palpable.
In his subsequent speech at the Munich Security Conference, President Zelenskyy effectively launched a pointed, though unnamed, attack on the United States, Ukraine’s largest donor of aid. During his remarks, he issued a clear call: “Europe's future depends only on Europeans and decisions about Europe are made in Europe”. To some extent, his speech could be interpreted as a demand for the U.S. and U.S. troops to leave Europe. Zelenskyy’s comments were met with a round of applause from the European audience, signaling their support and further confirming the public rift between the U.S. and Europe.
Regarding everything that transpired in Munich this past weekend, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius openly condemned Vance’s criticisms of Germany and European political forces, calling them "unacceptable". Pistorius accused Vance of participating in forum activities related to the expansion of influence by anti-immigration groups in the region. He stated, "this democracy was just called into question by the U.S. Vice President, not just the German democracy but that of Europe as a whole". Pistorius also publicly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s stance that Ukraine should not join NATO, calling it "clumsy" and a “mistake”. He made it clear, saying, "without Europe's participation in the negotiations ... it is difficult to imagine that Europeans should then secure this peace afterwards without having been involved in the negotiations to bring about peace together”. This open threat could be interpreted as implying that if Europeans do not participate in the Ukraine peace negotiations, Europe would be seen as obstructing the process.
In response to Vance's comments on European democracy, Pistorius directly emphasized, "If I understand him correctly he compares the condition of Europe with what prevails in some authoritarian regimes ... this is not acceptable", he continued to note that this is not the Europe and democratic nation in which he lives and for which he campaigns.
In fact, Vance also warned European leaders, saying, "if you’re running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you”. He added that no democratic country can tolerate telling millions of voters that "their thoughts and concerns, their aspirations, their pleas for relief are invalid or unworthy of even being considered”. In response, Pistorius retorted that the firewalls do not exist. "Every opinion has a voice in this democracy. It makes it possible for partly extremist parties like AfD to campaign completely normally, just like every other party", he said. However, on this point, Pistorius blatantly lied, as it contradicts widely known facts.
One aspect that seems to contrast with this was reflected in an X post by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz almost simultaneously: “out of the experiences of Nazism, the democratic parties in Germany have a joint consensus — that is the firewall against extreme right-wing parties”.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre expressed disagreement with Vance’s remarks on Friday, in which he urged European officials to curb illegal immigration. “He speaks as though we are not focused on immigration in Europe,” Store said. “I mean, this is the big theme in every country, that we want to have control of our borders”. Gahr Støre added, “I don’t agree with him that what’s happening in Ukraine, what’s happening in Russia, what’s happening in China is less important than the presumed loss of freedom of speech in Europe”.
It is known that French President Macron has called for an emergency meeting of European countries, and the reactions from France and other European politicians are expected to unfold in the coming days. U.S. President Donald Trump, upon hearing Vance's speech, remarked, "a very brilliant speech". Clearly, this was just Trump's initial reaction. However, regardless of how Trump or other politicians may respond, and whether the issue is later downplayed, the contradictions and conflicts between the U.S. and Europe have now been laid bare.
The "spectacle" in Munich revealed that the current world is neither a multipolar nor a unipolar one, and the theory of polarization in geopolitics has become outdated. The world today is one where multiple ideologies coexist, and the Western world is far from unified. The entire world has returned to a moment reminiscent of the pre-World War I era, where social movements now play the dominant role. The U.S. has already undergone this shift, which is why Trump came to power. Europe is in the midst of this transformation, with establishment factions in various countries building strength and attempting to push back. This is what makes the Munich conference so interesting.
