In a recent interview with UnHerd, U.S. Vice President JD Vance argued that Europe cannot continue to be a “permanent security vassal” of the United States.
Echoing the views of French leader Charles de Gaulle, Vance emphasized the need for Europe to achieve greater military independence, stating that it is not in the best interest of either Europe or the U.S. for the continent to rely indefinitely on American military power.
Vance’s comments come at a time when the Trump administration has repeatedly pushed European nations to invest more in their own defense. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that the U.S. military presence in Europe will not be sustained forever. Vance, aligning with these calls, argued that a more autonomous Europe would benefit both sides of the Atlantic.
Drawing parallels to historical events, Vance referenced the 1956 Suez Crisis, when U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower pressured Britain and France to end their military intervention in Egypt. He pointed out that, apart from a few nations like Britain, France, and Poland, most European countries have historically relied on the U.S. to maintain their security infrastructure.
Vance also touched on French military autonomy, noting that de Gaulle’s push for nuclear weapons and strategic independence laid the foundation for France’s ongoing pursuit of “strategic autonomy” — a vision now championed by President Emmanuel Macron.
