US Vice President JD Vance called on Europe to defend, protecting his own interests instead of Washington’s dependence, and defending Mr. Trump’s tough tariff policy.
“I really love European people,” US Vice President JD Vance shared in an interview with the news siteUnherdBased in England this week.
Despite affirming the deep cultural link between the US and Europe, Mr. Vance still emphasized the steadfast stance of the Trump administration: Europe needs to proactively protect itself to new threats, instead of continuing to depend on the United States as a “security vassal”, according to, according toCBSNews.
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US Vice President JD Vance. Image:Reuters. |
Affirming the inseparable attachment between American and European culture, Mr. Vance said: “I always think that it is impossible to separate American culture from European culture. America is a product of philosophy, theology and migration waves originating from Europe.”
However, he said that the current security model – in which the US burdens most of the cost of European defense – outdated. “It is not good if Europe is forever the US security vassals,” he said, and said that Europe’s strengthening of defense independence would benefit the US.
Evidence of the war in Iraq, Mr. Vance – a former marine soldier who used to be a battlefield reporter – frankly: “I think many European countries are right to protest the war in Iraq of the United States. If they are a little more independent and stronger, we probably avoid that strategic disaster.”
He also repeated the Trump administration for a long time for the limited military capacity of European countries. “European security infrastructure throughout my life is largely sponsored by the US. Most countries have no army strong enough to defend appropriately.”
Mr. Vance also denied the allegations that the Trump administration promoted Russia’s allegations during the conflict in Ukraine. In a “fiery” meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this year at the White House, he and Mr. Trump showed a tough attitude.
However, Mr. Vance countered: “It is absurd when Zelenskyy said that the US government – the force is keeping both the government and the war of Ukraine operating – standing on the side of Russia.”
He said that in order to end the conflict, it is necessary to understand the strategic goals of both sides.
Moving to trade issues, the US Vice President said that the high tax rates under Mr. Trump were essential to adjust the trade balance that was tilted towards other countries.
Despite acknowledging this policy that made the global financial market wobbly, he affirmed: “All big reforms make the market instability in the short term. But this is a long -distance game.”
Notably, Mr. Vance also revealed a certain flexibility that the Trump administration is willing to apply: “We have to listen to feedback from the business community, workers, bond market … to adjust for the successful policy.”
Referring to the UK, Mr. Vance said that the US was working closely with the Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government to reach a bilateral trade agreement. “The president loves England – he once respected the Queen and admired the king. It was a special relationship, not only economic reasons but also cultural similarities. The United States was essentially an Anglo country.”
In contrast, he said that negotiations with the EU or each member country will be much more difficult.
“With the United Kingdom, we have a two -way trade relationship than, for example, Germany. Although we love the Germans, they are very dependent on exports to the US, but quite strict with American goods that want to access the German market,” he said.
