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In a striking address to European leaders at the Munich Security Conference, U.S. Vice President JD Vance delivered a stern critique of Europe’s declining commitment to democratic values, suggesting the continent is increasingly mirroring the oppressive practices of Cold War adversaries.
Vance expressed deep concern over recent European developments that signal a retreat from democratic principles. He highlighted troubling incidents, including Romania’s election nullification, aggressive measures against social media content deemed hateful, and the arrest of individuals for public prayer, describing these events as particularly alarming to American observers.
JD Vance: Everything We Do Should be to Defend Democracy, But Europe is Abandoning Shared Valueshttps://t.co/FNHKvdUiJG
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“For years we’ve been told everything we fund and support is in the name of our shared democratic values. Everything from our Ukraine policy to digital censorship is billed as a defense of democracy. But when we see European courts canceling elections and senior officials threatening to cancel others, we have to ask if we are holding ourselves to an appropriately high standard. And I say ourselves because I fundamentally think we are on the same team. We must do more than talk about democratic values, we must live them.”
“Now within living memory of many of you in this room, the Cold War positioned defenders of democracy against much more tyrannical forces on this continent. And consider the side in that fight that censored dissidents, that closed churches, that canceled elections. Were they the good guys? Certainly not. And thank God they lost the Cold War.”
Drawing parallels with the Soviet Union’s collapse, Vance emphasized that their downfall stemmed from failing to embrace liberty’s fundamental principles. He cautioned that attempts to control thought and belief systems ultimately prove futile, questioning whether Europe has fully grasped these historical lessons.
The Vice President specifically pointed to concerning trends in British and European approaches to free expression, suggesting a noticeable decline in speech freedoms across the region.
In a forward-looking segment of his address, Vance introduced the prospect of change under Donald Trump’s leadership, characterizing him as “a new sheriff in town” committed to protecting free speech. His remarks about shifting from the Biden administration’s perceived restrictive policies to Trump’s contrasting approach received minimal audience response.
Notably, Vance’s presentation largely sidestepped discussion of the Ukraine War, despite its prominence among conference attendees’ concerns. This unexpected focus on internal European democratic challenges reflected the Trump administration’s priorities in addressing what they view as concerning developments within allied nations.
