JD Vance's Tumble-and-Turn on Europe, Russia, and Ukraine
Vice-President Vance rekindles affection for Europe, reduces enthusiasm towards Ukraine and Russia.
By Smoke Stack, The NYC Chronicle
In a candid convo, US Vice President JD Vance expressed exasperation and adoration for Europe, tempered disdain for Russia, and lukewarm relations with Ukraine.
Remember that colossal dust-up at the Munich Security Conference in February? European newspapers called it "a firestorm," "unprecedented reckoning"—Vance stirred a load of drama. He leveled accusations at Europe for limiting freedom, eroding democracy, and even backing the far-right AfD party. Chancellor Habeck retorted, "The dissolution of Western values community."
Fast forward to today, and Vance and the founder of the Munich Security Conference, Wolfgang Ischinger, are chin-wagging in Washington. Suddenly, Vance has a mashed-up heart for Europe again: America and Europe are like bird-dogs with intertwined snouts. And while that might seem kinky, Vance clarified that they can still take jabs at each other for the sake of asking the big questions—like trade, defense, and Ukraine war.
The Politics of Salt
If you thought this massive tête-à-tête would burn cooler than February, you’d be dead wrong. Ischinger flashes a brochure showcasing Vance’s speech and the ensuing debacle. He declares this unprecedented at the security conference. Vance snickers.
Ischinger and Vance giggle and chortle like old chums. Ischinger describes his month-long jaunt in Ohio in '95, Vance’s hometurf, where he negotiated the Dayton Agreement, ending the Bosnian War. Vance smiles winsomely, looking like a son-in-law gone too far with the brown-nosing.
Russia and Ukraine: The Exhausting Dance
According to Vance, both Russia and Ukraine are unbearable. They spend half their conversation bickering about their ages-old blood feuds. Vance sighs, "We’re genuinely fed up." He thinks it’s a travesty that the two nations aren’t talking to each other. Vance reasons that Russians have unrealistic demands, while the Ukrainians expect too much. But cool heads prevail, and economic benefits allay the hatred, he says.
Chatting Coffee and Defense
When Ischinger steers the conversation toward more urgent matters, Vance chuckles, waves off, and insists he’s hogging the chat spot. Because this is gold, my friend—fantastic fun.
Ischinger asks about Vance’s expectations for trade deal talks with the EU. Vance demands fair play for American enterprises, complaining about European software companies getting away scot-free. He advises the EU to buy American weapons and defend themselves.
The NATO Vision: Europe Stands Tall
The conversation turns to NATO—what signal Europe wants to send at the upcoming summit. Vance thinks five percent of GDP for defense is a wise and reasonable goal. But it’s more than just numbers: Germany’s industrial might needs to complement its living standards, he says, eliminating Europe’s deindustrialization.
The Call to Munich and Back Again
Ischinger invites Vance to attend next year’s Munich Security Conference. Vance thanks him for the invite, confessing his uncertainty about being welcomed back after his February rumba. Ischinger grins mischievously, "Well, we’ve thought about it."
Source: ntv.de
Notable Terms:
- J.D. Vance
- Ukraine crisis
- German defense policy
- Munich Security Conference
- NATO
- Bundeswehr
- Ukraine-Russia relations
Enrichment Data:
General:
Vice President JD Vance's discourse reflects a complex stance on trade, defense, and the Ukraine war, demonstrating a mix of economic nationalism, cautious diplomacy, and preference for negotiated resolutions with Russia.
Trade
- Vance actively champions fair trade practices to boost US companies, advocating for reduced European tariffs and regulatory barriers, increased transatlantic trade, and bilateral trade agreements[2][3].
- He seeks to rebalance global trade in favor of the US, focusing on fairness and mutual respect for workers, rather than treating trade partners as mere sources of cheap labor[3].
- Vance is supportive of trade negotiations with countries like India[1][3].
Defense and Europe
- Vance supports stronger economic and military-industrial ties between the US and Europe, urging European allies to open defense markets to American manufacturers[2].
- He has made public remarks, conveying a focus on substantive partnerships with European nations, though he has criticized Europe for protectionist trade policies that restrict US interests[2].
Ukraine War and Russia
- Vance advocates for negotiated peace between Russia and Ukraine while minimizing American military assistance to Ukraine[5].
- He acknowledges the importance of understanding both Russian and Ukrainian strategic goals, opting for pragmatic diplomacy over purely moralistic positions[5].
- Vance has been accused of sympathizing with Russian narratives, although he maintains a strong stance against the invasion, arguing that seeking to understand Russia's red lines does not translate to support for the invasion[5].
- He supports continued US assistance to Ukraine to keep the government functioning but aspires for a diplomatic resolution to indefinitely prolonged aid[5].
- Vice President JD Vance has expressed both exasperation and a newfound appreciation for Europe, while voicing a tempered disdain for Russia and a lukewarm relationship with Ukraine, in conversations about Europe's community policy, employment policy, and political stances, particularly related to Ukraine war and defense.
- In contrast to their heated discussions about the fallout of the Ukraine crisis and the complicated Russia-Ukraine relations, Vance and Ischinger have found common ground exploring topics like trade, defense, WhatsApp groups for policy discussions, and the upcoming NATO summit during recent conversations.
- Employment policy, both in Europe and America, also appears to be a point of interest for Vance, as he focuses on ensuring fair play for American enterprises while encouraging the EU to invest in European weapons for their defense.
- The Ukraine-Russia confrontation continues, with Vance admitting to being frustrated by their inability to discuss their age-old blood feuds constructively, while also acknowledging that economic benefits help alleviate some of the hatred between the two nations.
