JD Vance: It's not Russia or China, the biggest threat to Europe comes from within

US Vice President JD Vance said today that the greatest threat facing Europe today is a retreat from some of its most fundamental values, which it shares with the United States of America. Vance made the comments during his speech at the Munich Security Conference. The US vice president also called on European leaders to significantly increase spending on the continent's defense, while America, as he said, focuses on areas of the world that are at great risk.

US Vice President JD Vance said that the greatest threat facing Europe today, contrary to popular belief, is not external.

"The threat I worry about most that threatens Europe is not Russia, it's not China, it's not any other external actor, what I worry about is the threat from within, the withdrawal of Europe from some of its most fundamental values, the common values ??that it shares with the United States of America," he said.

JD Vance has criticized Europe for suppressing free speech, saying that this freedom is in danger.

Vice President Vance accused the previous administration of trying to silence people for saying what they thought.

He added that the White House under President Trump will do the opposite, letting agreements and disagreements be made public. Mr. Vance reiterated Washington's call for Europe to do more to ensure its defense.

“This is a security conference, and I’m sure you all came here prepared to talk about how you specifically intend to increase defense spending over the next few years in line with a new target. And that’s fantastic because as President Trump has made very clear, he believes that our European friends should play a bigger role in the future of this continent. You’ve heard the term burden-sharing. We think that’s an important part of being in a common alliance, that the Europeans increase security while America focuses on areas of the world that are at great risk.”

NATO Secretary General Rutte said that US Vice President Vance is "absolutely right" to talk about the need for Europe to do more for its defense. Mr. Rutte made the comments during a bilateral meeting with Mr. Vance.

"It's something that needs to be done. We need to spend a lot more. But we also need to discuss the pace of production in the defense industry. Of course, this is a problem that we face both in the United States and in the rest of NATO. We are simply not producing enough. We are not keeping up with the Russians or the Chinese," Rutte said.

Ukraine and the prospects for peace talks were the main focus of the summit.

Vice President JD Vance said Washington would use economic and military tools in talks with Russia to secure a good peace deal over Ukraine. Mr. Vance, who will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later today, made the comments in an interview with the Wall Street Journal before arriving in Munich. But his spokesman William Martin later clarified that Mr. Vance's comments were not a threat to Moscow. Martin said the vice president was simply making it clear that no one is going to take away President Trump's options as peace negotiations between Kiev and Moscow begin.