VP Vance Urges Europe to Reduce Reliance on U.S. for Security

U.S. Vice President JD Vance has called on European nations to take greater responsibility for their own security, emphasizing the importance of transatlantic unity while warning against long-term dependence on American defense support.

“I love Europe and its people. I’ve said many times that American and European cultures are inseparable,” Vance said in an interview published April 14. “But it’s not healthy for Europe to rely indefinitely on the United States for its security. I don’t want Europeans doing whatever Americans tell them to do—that’s bad for both sides.”

Vance argued that a more self-reliant Europe would ultimately benefit the United States by providing a check on potential American foreign policy missteps.

“Many European nations were right to criticize the U.S. invasion of Iraq. If Europe had been more independent and assertive, maybe the world could have been spared that strategic disaster,” he said.

The vice president pointed out that for years, Europe’s defense infrastructure has been heavily subsidized by the United States.

“Just 25 years ago, many European countries had robust militaries—strong enough at least to defend their own territory,” Vance said. “Today, most of them don’t. Exceptions like the UK, France, and Poland only highlight how underinvested the rest of Europe is in its own defense. That needs to change.”

Vance also responded to recent criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who accused the vice president of “justifying” Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“If you want to end the conflict, you have to try to understand how both Russia and Ukraine define their strategic objectives—and where their red lines are,” Vance said. “It’s absurd for Zelensky to accuse the U.S. government, which is providing massive aid, of siding with Russia.”

On trade, Vance sought to ease European concerns over tariffs and economic friction, saying President Donald Trump’s policies would ultimately foster “more constructive trade relationships” with Europe. Still, he acknowledged that some countries—particularly Germany—might find that harder to achieve, citing their heavy reliance on exports to the U.S.

European governments have yet to respond to Vance’s remarks.

Vance, who took office just weeks ago, has already made headlines with his sharp comments about Europe. At the Munich Security Conference in February, he stirred controversy by claiming that Europe’s biggest security threat wasn’t Russia or China—but the continent’s own retreat from “some of its most basic values.”

(Sources: UnHerd, AFP)

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