Part 7/10:
In tandem with the fallout for Ukraine, the tone set by Vice President Vance during his address at the conference highlighted a growing divide between the US and its European partners. Vance’s sweeping criticisms of European democracies on various domestic issues—from migration to free speech—further signaled an irreparable rift. Rather than reinforcing a collaborative mindset, these remarks fostered a climate of defensiveness among European leaders.
The response from Europe was swift, with leaders including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and EU policy chief Josep Borrell vocally rebuking the US. The consensus amongst European officials was stark: the long-standing relationship with the US had fundamentally changed, and they would now have to navigate this new reality.