In a shocking departure from expected topics, US Vice President J.D. Vance identifies the biggest threat to Europe as its own suppression of free speech and marginalization of extremist parties, urging Germany to work with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
US Vice President J.D. Vance delivered a controversial address at the Munich Security Conference , shocking attendees with his assertion that the greatest security threat to Europe was not military aggression from Russia or China, nor election interference from Moscow. Instead, Vance argued that the real enemy lay within Europe itself, citing the suppression of abortion protests and other forms of free speech , as well as the marginalization of parties deemed extremist.
Vance's speech, delivered on Friday, was a stark departure from the expected discussions on ending the war in Ukraine and bolstering European defense against Russia's growing influence. It offered a glimpse into a potential new transatlantic relationship under the Trump administration, one focused on aligning with once-fringe political parties sharing common ground on migration, identity, and internet speech. Vance singled out Germany, facing a crucial election for a new chancellor, urging them to abandon their reluctance to collaborate with a party that has historically invoked banned Nazi slogans and been excluded from government.His extraordinary intervention in the domestic politics of a US ally drew gasps from the audience. While he didn't explicitly name the Alternative for Germany (AfD), the party surged to second place in the polls with its anti-immigration stance. AfD members have a history of using Nazi language, antisemitic and racist remarks, a past Vance ignored. He framed the AfD and its counterparts across Europe as legitimate expressions of voter discontent over the influx of millions of refugees into the European Union over the past decade. Vance even met with AfD leader Alice Weidel, a chancellor candidate, and other party leaders outside the conference, further escalating tensions.German leaders across the political spectrum condemned Vance's speech. They rejected his suggestion to overlook the AfD's past, citing the party's members' support for National Socialism. Thomas Silberhorn, a member of parliament for the Christian Social Union, emphasized that Germany's stance against extremist groups, including those explicitly invoking National Socialism, was a matter of national sovereignty. Boris Pistorius, the German defense minister, publicly rebuked Vance, calling his comparison of parts of Europe to authoritarian regimes unacceptable and a misrepresentation of European democracy.Vance's speech echoes a broader trend within the Trump administration to challenge the traditional alliances and isolate the far right in Europe. Billionaire Elon Musk, a close advisor to Trump, publicly endorsed the AfD last year and has engaged in interviews with Weidel, expressing his view that Germany should move on from past guilt. This comes at a time when other European firewalls against hard-right parties are weakening. In Austria, the Freedom Party, known for its far-right views, was poised to lead the next government before negotiations collapsed
US Vice President Munich Security Conference European Politics J.D. Vance Afd Alternative For Germany Free Speech Extremism Immigration Germany
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