US Vice President J.D. Vance argues that Europe’s greatest threat isn’t China or Russia, but its internal abandonment of core values.
At the Munich Security Conference, Vance prioritized Europe’s internal challenges over external threats from Russia or China. He expressed concern over what he perceives as a departure from fundamental European principles.
Vance stated that while the US focuses on a Russia-Ukraine resolution, Europe faces more significant internal issues. He emphasized his primary concern is an internal threat, not external actors.
Citing a former senior EU official celebrating Romania’s annulment of its 2024 presidential election, Vance implied the decision was politically motivated due to unfavorable election results.
Vance expressed confidence in achieving a Russia-Ukraine settlement and stressed the need for Europe to bolster its defense capabilities. He also highlighted mass migration as a critical challenge.
In a Wall Street Journal interview, Vance asserted that mainstream EU parties fear their own populations and criticized the dismissal of dissenting opinions as misinformation. He argued that a vulnerability to relatively small-scale social media campaigns reflects a weak understanding of public will.
Besides the Romanian election controversy, he mentioned Germany’s AfD party, viewed as extremist by the establishment.
Romania’s annulled election saw right-wing candidate Calin Georgescu leading, prompting allegations of Russian interference due to his campaign’s TikTok presence. Georgescu opposes NATO and Ukraine support.
Reports suggest the alleged Russian interference originated from a firm linked to Romania’s ruling party, potentially amplified by a US-funded NGO. Georgescu, if allowed to run again, could achieve 38% of the vote, according to recent polling.
Former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton supported the Romanian court decision and hinted at similar potential actions in Germany, which faces an upcoming election with the AfD gaining popularity.
Russia’s foreign ministry dismissed allegations of interference in the Romanian election as baseless.