In a bold message to European allies, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said it’s time Europe stopped playing the role of America’s “permanent security vassal” and started carrying more of its own weight on the global stage.
Speaking in his first major sit-down with a European news outlet, Vance made it clear that while Washington still considers Europe a partner, the dynamic needs to shift. “We’re friends,” he implied, “but it’s high time you looked after your own backyard.”
Vance didn’t mince words when it came to European leadership either. He called on EU leaders to get more in tune with their citizens—especially on hot-button issues like migration. According to him, ignoring public sentiment is a dangerous game, one that could unravel the political stability of the continent.
When the topic turned to the war in Ukraine, the Vice President pushed back on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent suggestion that the U.S. was cozying up to Moscow. “Not true,” Vance said flatly. Instead, he urged a more pragmatic approach—understanding the goals of both Kyiv and Moscow to help broker a viable resolution.
On trade, Vance defended former President Donald Trump’s controversial tariff policies, saying the U.S. isn’t looking to spark a trade war but to rebalance the scales. “Fairness” is the endgame, he explained—especially in dealing with the European Union.
All in all, Vance painted a picture of a U.S. ready to remain a global power, but one that expects its allies to pull their own weight—and listen a little more closely to their people while they’re at it.
