US Vice President warned Europe they would only keep America’s friendship if they “share” Donald Trump’s values.
And he defended Trump negotiating with Vladimir Putin – branding his boss “the President of Peace”. Speaking at the opening of right-wing conference CPAC in Washington DC, he said Trump’s strength as a negotiator was that he “doesn’t take anything off the table.”
Trump has faced criticism for appearing to side with Russia over their illegal invasion of Ukraine – and blaming the war on Kyiv for fighting back against Putin’s forces. Mr Vance said Trump’s approach had made people’s “heads explode”.
“They say ‘Why are you talking to Russia?’ Well, how are you gonna end the war unless you’re talking to Russia?” He went on: “You’ve gotta talk to everybody involved in the fighting if you actually want to bring [the war to an end].
“President Trump’s policy, it’s really simple. He wants the killing to stop, he wants to bring lasting peace to Europe. He doesn’t just want stop it now and have it restart a month from now.
“He wants to bring last peace to Europe because the president believes …peace is in the interest of Russia, it’s in the interest of Ukraine, it’s in the interest of Europe, most importantly peace is in the interest of the American people.”
He added of his boss: “He’s going to be the president of peace. … We’re on the cusp of peace in Europe for the first time in three years because we have leadership in the Oval Office.”
Vance was given a lengthy standing ovation at the mention of his speech to the Munich Security Conference – where he scolded European leaders over immigration, defence spending and ‘free speech’.
“We’re going to have alliances with Europe, but I really do think the strength of those alliances is going to depend on whether we take our societies in the right direction,” he said. “Germany’s entire defense is subsidised by the American taxpayer.
“There are thousands upon thousands of American troops in Germany today. Do you think the American taxpayer is gonna stand that if you get thrown in jail in Germany from posting a mean tweet? Of course they’re not.
“The point that I try to make to European friends – and I I think there are I believe as I know President Trump does – that friendship is based on shared values.”
He added: “So let’s have sheer value. Let’s defend democracy. let’s have free expression, not just in the United States, but all over the Western world, that is the path to strong alliances.”
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