JD Vance’s Munich speech laid bare the collapse of the transatlantic alliance
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/15/jd-vance-munich-speech-laid-bare-collapse-transatlantic-alliance-us-europe
by fungussa
JD Vance’s Munich speech laid bare the collapse of the transatlantic alliance
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/15/jd-vance-munich-speech-laid-bare-collapse-transatlantic-alliance-us-europe
by fungussa
33 comments
Time for an EU army.
Also ban twitter ffs it’s just a propaganda machine at this point.
It’s remarkable how unprepared for all this European leaders seem to be. It all feels very 1930s…
The US already violated NATO Articles 1 and 2, so not much surprise any longer.
History’s greatest chapters aren’t written in comfort, they’re forged in courage. Europe now stands on the threshold of its Renaissance 2.0. If the U.S. retreats, let them. Where others see a void, we see an opportunity, a vacuum, for nature abhors emptiness. And we will fill it with our vision and resolve.
Here’s the irrefutable truth: With €88.8 billion in verified aid to Ukraine (EU Commission, 2024), we have become the world’s largest donor, not out of charity, but for strategic survival. Every HIMARS system we fund in Kramatorsk shields cities like Warsaw, Vilnius, and Berlin. Meanwhile, 82% of Ukrainian refugees are either employed or enrolled in EU education programs (Eurostat, Q1 2024), proving that we don’t merely provide shelter, we empower lives. This is how civilizations evolve. On the economic front, Russia’s GDP has shrunk by 6.3% since sanctions were imposed, while the eurozone grew by 1.7% in 2023 (IMF, 2023). Putin’s energy stranglehold has been effectively crushed, with EU gas imports from Russia plummeting from 40% in 2021 to a mere 6.3% today (Eurostat), a masterclass in economic jujitsu.
Autonomy is not just a slogan, it is the lifeblood of a reinvigorated Europe. The drive for strategic self-reliance is unmistakable. Germany is actively working to strengthen its defense budget in response to NATO’s evolving demands, while France is modernizing its deterrence capabilities through significant investments in both its nuclear arsenal and next-generation systems. Additionally, many EU nations have markedly increased their defense spending in recent years.
Europe is advancing in defense technology through the European Hypersonic Defence Interceptor (EU HYDEF) project, supported by €100 million from the European Defence Fund. This multinational initiative aims to develop an endo-atmospheric interceptor system to counter hypersonic threats, with operational readiness targeted for 2035. The Ukrainian Support Plan delivers €50 billion through 2027, backed by EU commitments, focusing on comprehensive modernization and reconstruction. In cyber defense, Estonia leads NATO’s digital initiatives as host of the Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, pioneering integrated national security systems. These coordinated efforts reflect Europe’s strategic investment in defense capabilities and technological sovereignty.
Europe’s unified initiatives underscore its unwavering commitment to strengthening defense strategies and advancing strategic autonomy, reflecting a strategic investment in defense capabilities and technological sovereignty.
We’ve outlived empires. Outfought plagues. Outsmarted tyrants. In 1347, the Black Death ravaged the continent, yet from its ashes emerged the Renaissance, a period of unparalleled cultural and intellectual rebirth. In 1945, amidst the devastation of war, Europe united to establish the European Union, laying the foundation for unprecedented peace and prosperity. Now, in 2024, facing Russia’s aggression, Europe stands resolute, ready to thwart any ambitions that threaten our sovereignty and values. Our history is a testament to our resilience and unwavering commitment to a united, prosperous, and secure Europe.
The U.S. races clocks. We shape centuries.
Let Washington chatter. We’ll act.
Let Moscow bluster. We’ll endure.
When Rome fell, we gave the world Galileo. When the heavens were a mystery, we gave the world Lipperhey’s telescope. When fascism rose, we birthed Churchill. When walls divided, we tore them down. This crisis? Merely fuel for Europe’s next evolution.
The United States of Judas.
Just imagine that maybe Vance is worse than DJT. People are trying to weather the next 47 months. This party might just be getting started.
I understand why European leaders are in shock. The international policy of any state, especially in the west, was relatively predictable regardless of domestic policy. You could expect roughly the same overall stance and approach regardless of who was in power: Clinton or Bush, Thatcher or Blair, Schroeder or Merkel, etc.
Now the USA may have a radically different international strategy depending on who won the presidential elections.
This make them unreliable, but this may not be unwelcomed by many global actors (China, India, etc.) as it fits with a multi-polar, interes-driven (instead of value-driven) world order. It’s easier to trade and recognize each other’s area of influence when you know your opponent has a clear selfish agenda.
Europe, and the EU in particular, is not necessary powerless in this new scenario (I actually believe it may emerge stronger than now), but it has to adapt quickly.
JD Vanc’s other actions also highlighted that the US is now actively engaged in promoting right wing extremism in the world, especially those with neo-nazi agendas.
It also showed that the U.S. is no longer a leader of the free world, but a regressive state with totalitarian tendencies.
It is not the “collapse of the transatlantic alliance”. It is US politicians, bought and paid by billionaires and Russia, abandoning 90 years of cooperation with allies.
I think Vance did the EU a favor by being straightforward, and not in a Trump style bombastic manner. And I think this feeling represents the American populace. But it’s not a negative view of Europe, but more of a need to focus on fixing our broken and bankrupt nation.
“May you live in interesting times” sounds more and more like a curse.
Collapse? Deliberate destruction by maga/russia.
The good thing about NATO is that the infrastructure, communication channels, hierarchy, comparability, etc. are already baked in all the militaries of its member.
So Europe should be able to go forward with a European military in a straightforward manner. It won’t be easy, but it should be straightforward.
Maybe the US will leave NATO, then Ukraine can join.
Hmm… to get back tonthe point vis- a- vi’s J. D..Vances Munich car crash speech. Yes it did lay bare the total collapse of the Transatlantic alliance, and yes he made it very clear America is no longer a friend of Europe, and no, the UK no longer has a ‘special’ relationship with America. And judging by the thing and his boos Trump are saying, why the fuck would anyone want to have any kind of relationship with the USA, why would anyone trust America, or put their faith in this administration. A collapse of the Transatlantic alliance has been in the offing for years. But Vances horrendous speech in Munich, Baptised the fact that America is only out for itself, they clearly have time for anybother values other than MAGA values, which means Europe is on its own.. we have to build a new world, with new alliances, and move away from old world of special relationships with America, because they can never be trusted again.
There seems to be zero coordination about what the US foreign and defensive policy really even is. Hegseth’s speech sounded like a bunch of ad-hoc remarks and Vance’s speech was given with zero thought of how it will be received. Zero diplomatic skill in both cases. US sent two rookies to represent itself, and it showed. I don’t think Trump has any sort of plan with *anything* that he’s doing in terms of ally relationships. It’s all just each individual representative thinking that they have the biggest dick in the room, but has zero idea how to use it.
What I imagine is going on is that the EU states, and EU itself, is currently trying to use behind-the-scenes connections with senators and other US high level politicians and gauge what the situation really is and whether there are adults in the room with these children or whether they really have set immature idiots loose with no supervision from experienced diplomats.
If they have… Jesus Christ.
Not just transatlantic – the entire Western alliance. US has completely destroyed its relationship with Canada.
While this may be an end to the US lead Nato, this is not the end of the alliance. The US has chosen its path, democracies and cultured nations will have to take another. But the commitment to each other in Europe is still firm.
Hold on Europe, don’t forget about Canada.
We have and will fought with you.
We are part of NATO, the part that keeps its word.
We need to build out our defence as well. Send us your best defence contactor ‘s info.
We have the metals needed.
Call us……..please!!!!
Our European leaders are so slow to react. They’re still in the sauna, staring into space
You don’t visit countries to insult your hosts. That was a full fascist spiel, *”enemy from within”*… this idiot either is new to this stuff and doesn’t know in which city he dared to repeat that, or he was performing for the American media. In any case it’s despicable. And I agree, it’s over.
We should mark a day in 1 or 2 weeks and just cancel most of our subscriptions and accounts on American companies, like Netflix, HBO, Disney, Adobe, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, Instagram, X, etc.
Leave the bare essencial for at least 1 month. We have to pressure them so they start feeling consequences of their bullying.
France was quite literally laughed at a few years ago when we were talking about strategic autonomy and decoupling our defence from the USA. I mean I’m glad our European sisters and brothers are waking up but allow me to smirk just a little a bit.
Europe needs to be united, it is now or never. And I fear our politicians don’t have the courage or the drive to do it. Realistically, what can we, the general public, do to push for this? So many of us want to act, but how? Serious questions
We need digital independence. [https://european-alternatives.eu/](https://european-alternatives.eu/) it’s a start.
We need mobile phones and mobile-OS and app store. Same on desktop. Degoogle, demicrosoft, de-us-AI everything.
The Americans who do not vote for republicans want to be part of NATO. It’s the batshit crazy Republicans and MAGA that are behind this nonsense.
For those that think this is a brief aberration that will last four years I say there is no guarantee that the US will be anything but a one party dictatorship.
The EU needs to ally with Canada and other free countries to defeat the nazis. Russia and the US are the most dangerous dictatorship
Trump’s father must have paid someone to take his history tests. Vance is just an ambitious stooge waiting for Trump to die. Except Trump’s father lived to be 93.
With friends like that, you don’t need enemies…
It was Curtis Yarvin’s speech, Vance is just an errand boy for Musk/Thiel.
Reduce dependency on America. I am sick and tired of European politicians: EU treaty arguably obliges members to help one another if they are attacked, therefore a joint army is a logical outcome.
Make nukes, station them strategically in countries next to aggressors.
Stop relying on America, start taking drastic measures against migrants, be selective to whom various rights/benefits apply.
Forge stronger economic ties with South America, Canada, even China. Let America go alone against China in the Indian-Pacific oceans.
Ban US/Chinese or any other outside/inside companies, which do not comply with regulations. First focus on those which do the most damage and serve interests of foreign powers: Tiktok, Twitter, Facebook
Acknowledge the past, reduce the emphasis of culture wars and remember the values Europe was built on.
Just a couple of points.
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