VP Vance: Europe Must End Role as ‘Permanent Security Vassal’ of U.S.

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has called on Europe to stop relying on the United States for its defense, stating bluntly that the continent cannot remain a “permanent security vassal” of Washington. His remarks come amid growing transatlantic friction over military spending and strategic responsibility, particularly in the context of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In an interview with UnHerd on Monday, Vance criticized what he described as decades of European underinvestment in defense, arguing that only a few countries – the UK, France, and Poland – maintain self-sustaining military capabilities.

“Europe’s entire security infrastructure, for my entire life, has been subsidized by the United States of America,” Vance said. “That has to change.”

Trump Administration Presses for Higher NATO Spending

Vance’s comments align with the Trump administration’s long-standing push for increased defense spending among NATO allies. Since his first term, President Donald Trump has argued that the U.S. shoulders disproportionate security burdens for Europe. Although NATO members pledged in 2014 to spend 2% of GDP on defense, many have yet to meet the target.

In February, Trump escalated his demands, suggesting allies should raise military spending to 5% of GDP.

Transatlantic Tensions and the Russia Factor

Vance’s remarks come at a time of heightened concerns about a potential future conflict with Russia, with some Western officials speculating that Moscow could target NATO’s eastern flank in the coming years. The Kremlin has dismissed these warnings as “nonsense”, maintaining that it has no intention of attacking NATO states.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has echoed Trump’s demand for greater European defense commitments, further underscoring the growing divide between American expectations and European military readiness.