© Sean Gallup/Getty ImagesUS Vice President J.D. Vance speaks at the 61st Munich Security Conference on February 14, 2025 in Munich, Germany.
Democratic backsliding
Vance voiced concerns over the erosion of democratic values in Europe, highlighting cases where elections were annulled or threatened. He cited Romania's presidential election, where the first-round results were overturned in November due to alleged foreign interference.
However, a December investigation found no evidence of Russian involvement in a social media campaign supporting independent candidate Calin Georgescu. Instead, the probe revealed his campaign was funded by the pro-Western National Liberal Party (PNL), contradicting earlier claims. Snoop reported that Romania's constitutional court ultimately annulled the election.
"European courts canceling elections and senior officials threatening to cancel others... We ought to ask whether we're holding ourselves to an appropriately high standard," Vance challenged, urging European leaders to uphold democratic principles.
Freedom of speech and censorship
Vance dedicated much of his speech to warning against rising censorship in Europe, criticizing EU regulations that allow governments to shut down social media and silence political dissent.
"I look to Brussels, where EU commissars warn citizens they intend to shut down social media... the moment they spot what they've judged to be, quote, hateful content," he said.
He cited cases in Sweden and also in the UK where individuals faced prosecution for peaceful expressions of faith or political beliefs, including British Army veteran Adam Smith Connor, fined for silently praying near an abortion clinic.
"In Britain and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat," Vance warned.
Vance noted that nearly 20% of the population in some European countries consists of individuals who have moved from abroad, marking an unprecedented demographic shift.
He argued that this surge has escalated security risks, citing an incident in Munich on Thursday where an asylum seeker, known to police, rammed a car into a crowd.
Democratic governance and the role of people
Vance stressed the necessity of listening to the people, emphasizing that leaders must respect the democratic process rather than seek to manipulate or suppress dissent.
"Democracy rests on the sacred principle that the voice of the people matters. There's no room for firewalls. You either uphold the principle or you don't."
He warned against the dangers of ignoring the electorate's concerns and argued that true security cannot exist without a government that is responsive to its people.
"If you're running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you."
Mixed reactions from European leaders and experts
President Donald Trump praised Vance's remarks, calling the speech "brilliant" and agreeing with his concerns about the erosion of free speech in Europe. However, some European officials were not so keen on the address.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius strongly rejected the US vice president's assertions, calling them "not acceptable" and likening them to attacks from authoritarian regimes. Similarly, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed concern that the speech signaled the US was "trying to pick a fight" with Europe.
Kallas' concerns about growing transatlantic tension were echoed by some Russian officials. Federation Council member Aleksey Pushkov remarked that the Trump-Vance doctrine fundamentally clashes with liberal European values and will inevitably strain US-Europe relations under Trump. Meanwhile, Russian Senator Alexander Shenderyuk-Zhidkov described Vance's speech as a "cold shower" for European Russophobes in an interview with RIA Novosti.
All talk. No actions. A bunch of political fluff.