US Vice President JD Vance on February 14 called on Europe to improve its defense capabilities so that Washington can focus on threats in other regions around the world.
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| US Vice President JD Vance asked Europe to improve its defense capabilities so that Washington could focus on other areas. (Source: Getty Images) |
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Mr. Vance stressed that “that mission is an important part of the common alliance framework” that Europe must shoulder, “while the United States focuses on areas of the world that are facing serious danger.” In addition, the US Vice President also declared that democratic values are “receding” in Europe, emphasizing that this is a greater threat than Russia’s military actions.
“The threat that I worry about most for Europe is not Russia. It’s not China. It’s not any other external actor. What worries me is the threat from within. It’s Europe’s retreat from some of its most fundamental values. In the UK and across Europe, I fear those values are retreating,” Mr. Vance said.
Meanwhile, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen has taken a completely different view from JD Vance on the coming threats, with the Commission chief highlighting shared challenges on trade and security only for the US vice president to rebuke the bloc for retreating from democratic values.
In her keynote speech, von der Leyen argued that Europe is ready to act to defend its values amid a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape and a more transactional approach to global issues.
The statement was made in the context of the US pressuring the "Old Continent" to be self-sufficient in defense issues. The EC President said she would propose exempting defense spending from the European Union's (EU) limits on government spending.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Ms Von der Leyen said lifting restrictions on defence spending would be similar to lifting debt limits during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The head of the EC stressed that Europe is in a crisis and needs a similar approach, the new direction will allow member states to significantly increase defense spending. However, this will also be done "in a controlled and conditional manner".
Last year, the EU revised its debt and spending rules, setting annual net spending limits for member states to avoid the risk of excessive borrowing and cutting public debt.
However, the US has recently asked EU member states in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to double their defense spending to prepare for the threat from Russia, instead of waiting for help from Washington.
On the same day, February 14, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz commented that there were signs that cooperation with the US in the defense field could continue, but Europe must do everything in its power to better ensure its own security in all cases.
In an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio, Mr. Scholz stressed that everything must be done to ensure that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) can continue to function. However, the German leader also admitted that “this will not be an easy task.”
The statement came after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Europe on February 13 not to treat the US like a “fool” by shifting defense responsibilities to Washington.
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