Kulturkampf against Europe

James David "JD" Vance's speech was eagerly awaited on the first day of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) . Will the US Vice President reveal more about Donald Trump's "peace plan" for Ukraine? What about his desires for Greenland, Canada and the Gaza Strip? How does the White House see the future of NATO? But Vance failed to provide any answers on Friday afternoon. He preferred to give a culture war speech. His message: Europe's democratic systems must change radically.

In his 18-minute speech, Vance criticized the path taken by governments in Europe. The conditions in some countries on the old continent reminded him of the Soviet Union because of their supposed planned economy and censorship. "Just as the Biden administration has tried desperately to silence people from speaking out, the Trump administration will do exactly the opposite, and I hope we can work together on this," Vance said.

Vance complained that freedom of expression is allegedly under attack by governments in the EU. "I fear that in the UK and across Europe, freedom of expression is in retreat," he said. He cited the alleged censorship on social media as an example . "It seems as though many governments are hiding behind the curtain of disinformation to suppress the opinions of their citizens," he said. However, there is no point in talking about common security if we do not agree on the values ​​we are defending.

The governments in Europe are not listening to their voters, said Trump's right-hand man. This is also evident in the issue of migration. European voters did not vote to "open the floodgates to millions of unchecked immigrants," said Vance. His speech culminated in the statement: "I think there is no more pressing issue than mass migration." He also criticized the decision of the MSC organizers not to invite right-wing populist politicians. "There is no justification for firewalls," said Vance.

What was completely missing from his somewhat bizarre appearance were any references to the future of Ukraine. This was particularly notable in a week in which the US government has put the transatlantic relationship to a major test. After a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin a few days ago, Trump announced that the two countries would begin peace talks to end the war in Ukraine.

Shortly afterwards, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth declared in Brussels that NATO membership for Ukraine was not currently under discussion. This had always been one of Putin's conditions. An early "peace" no longer seems to be out of the question - but it would probably be over Ukraine's head and linked to the ceding of Ukrainian territory to Russia.

The plans from Washington are encountering resistance in Europe. Above all, the idea of ​​peace without Ukraine's participation is a "no go" for Europe and Ukraine itself. But Vance ignored the issue completely and preferred to use the world's attention to teach the USA's allies what democracy means. The applause in the hall was very limited.

Before the conference began, MSC Chairman Christoph Heusgen had suspected that Vance would announce the withdrawal of a "large part of the American troops from Europe". But Vance did not say anything about that either. Instead, he only made a very general call for more to be done for our own defence. It is an "important part of a common alliance that the Europeans become more involved". The USA, meanwhile, must "focus on the regions of the world that are in great danger". Vance did not get any more specific.

Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) was downright shocked by Vance's appearance. "The Vice President of the United States has called democracy into question for the whole of Europe," he said indignantly. Vance had equated the situation in Europe with authoritarian regimes. "Ladies and gentlemen, that is not acceptable," he said to Pistorius to great applause from the audience.

Federal President Steinmeier is extremely concerned

Before Vance's appearance, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier had already found unusually clear, even unpresidential words about the new US administration in his opening speech. He said that it had "a different worldview", namely "one that takes no account of established rules, of established partnerships and trust". It was "not in the interest of the international community for this worldview to become the dominant paradigm". Lawlessness must not become the model for a new order of the world.

Steinmeier, who had met Vance on Friday morning, was visibly concerned. "Yes, we got the message: we need a balanced burden-sharing between Europe and the USA," he said to the Trump administration. The reduction of US troops in Europe would certainly have to be discussed. But, Steinmeier reported of his conversation with Vance, he had "told the US vice president: Whatever you decide, discuss it with us." That was almost like a plea. No one could have "the interest of weakening NATO's capabilities in the short term or even calling NATO into question in the long term," Steinmeier warned.

With regard to Ukraine, the Federal President said that everyone would like the war there to end. But how this war ends will have a "lasting impact on our security order and on the power position of Europe and America in the world." He is convinced that simply "making a deal and leaving" would weaken not only Ukraine and Europe, but also the USA. Support for Ukraine must therefore continue in any case. In addition, every scenario requires "our joint deterrent power and strength."

For Steinmeier, this also includes an increase in German military spending to considerably more than the current 2.1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). The two percent target, which NATO agreed to in Wales in 2014, comes "from a different time." Now "we have to spend significantly more." There is no way around it. Every new federal government will "have to create the necessary financial leeway for this."

Ursula von der Leyen seeks common ground

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also spoke before Vance. She tried to highlight the commonalities. "We are ready to find an agreement that works for everyone," she said in her speech. She spoke of a historic moment. "There has been a lot of talk in recent days, we are only at the beginning of this process," said the CDU politician with a view to a possible peace order for Ukraine.

"Ukraine wants peace more than any other country," said von der Leyen. But what is needed is a solution that is fair and lasting. She warned that authoritarian states around the world are now looking at this process, which also involves whether the international community will ignore breaches of international law and violence.

At the same time, the Commission President demanded that action must now be taken in the EU. However, she did not promise a common strategy with regard to Ukraine, but stressed the need for member states to spend more money on defense. "Europe must bring more to the negotiating table," she said.

China's Foreign Minister against the "law of the jungle"

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke of a phase of "chaos" in the world order. "Without norms and standards, you may be sitting at the table one day and ending up on your plate the next," said Beijing's chief diplomat in his speech. He tried to portray the Middle Kingdom as the guarantor of the international world order. "China will be a pole of security in this multipolar world."

For Wang, Munich is just a stopover on a visit to the USA. He did not mention the US administration or Putin by name, saying that he had the impression that "the law of the jungle" had taken hold in the world. "Some countries have succumbed to the law of the strongest." China, on the other hand, is committed to equality between countries. "Sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected, and that must also apply to Chinese reunification," said Wang - thereby nonchalantly hinting at China's ambitions towards Taiwan.

The conference began on Friday afternoon with a minute's silence for the more than 30 people injured in the Munich attack last Thursday . Among the several hundred participants in the high-security event at the Bayerischer Hof, which will last until Sunday, are around 60 heads of state and government and over 100 ministers. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is scheduled to appear on Saturday, as is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. As in the past two years, no representatives from Russia and Belarus have been officially invited this year.

The area around the Bayerischer Hof is cordoned off on a large scale, and the police will be deployed with around 5,000 officers from Friday to Sunday. They will be supported by forces from other federal states and Austria. Various demonstrations are traditionally planned for Saturday. The largest is likely to be the traditional anti-Siko demo from Stachus to Marienplatz, which the left-wing "Action Alliance against the NATO Security Conference" expects to attract up to 5,000 participants.