Vice President JD Vance’s blistering speech condemning Europe over its approach to free speech last week angered many of the European leaders in the audience. But to the German owner of Politico and Business Insider,

US Vice-President JD Vance has launched a scalding attack on European democracies, saying the greatest threat facing the continent was not from Russia and China, but "from within". It had been expected that Vance would use his speech at the Munich Security Conference to address possible talks to end the war in Ukraine.

Vance’s speech signals a clear shift in US policy under Trump’s leadership, prioritising national interests over traditional global commitments.