Summary

At the Munich Security Conference, JD Vance criticized European leaders for suppressing free speech, mishandling migration, and ignoring populist concerns.

He questioned whether Europe’s values still aligned with America’s and warned of a “threat from within,” rather than Russia or China.

His speech, which largely avoided discussing Ukraine, shocked attendees and drew condemnation from EU and German officials but was praised by Russian state media.

Vance’s private meeting with Germany’s far-right AfD leader and his dismissal of mainstream politicians further deepened tensions between the U.S. and Europe.

  • Carmakazi@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    suppressing free speech

    Shutting out far-right racists and literal foreign agitators

    mishandling migration

    Racism

    and ignoring populist concerns

    More racism

    Feels like the New Axis is starting to take tangible shape.

    • ACbHrhMJ@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      mishandling migration

      Racism

      Are you calling it racism because Vance said it, or would you claim that anyone who thinks migration in Europe has been mishandled is racist?

      • Carmakazi@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        Perhaps some genuine criticism could be levied at the specifics of their immigration policy, but this is JD Vance, that’s not what he’s here for.

        When he talks about “shared values” and “what you are fighting for” he’s talking about white Christian dominance in Europe and defending it with the sword. The far right has long seen Europe as a failure of progressive decadence and moral weakness and this speech was a blatant expression of that.

        That is why the far right rejects European countries and cozies up to Russia, because the American conservative and the Russian nationalist have quite a lot of “shared values.”

  • FourPacketsOfPeanuts@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    mishandling migration, and ignoring populist concerns.

    I think Vance is a tool, but can someone explain how these two points aren’t objectively true?

    • Tabula_stercore@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      “Mishandling migration” is a pessimist position. With this position you can be wrong all the time, and then when an event occurs that false in the pessimistic view “you” claim full victory. It is similar to the story of doctors and a terminal patient that keeps outliving the diagnosis (although doctors dont celebrate the moment thay are proven right).

      For example why “populist concerns” are not to be taken too seriously are football hooligans. True (white) nationals tearing down city centres, yet you don’t hear anything about “bad integration” or “religion of peace”, or any conversation from that corner.

      • ACbHrhMJ@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        “Mishandling migration” is a pessimist position

        If you follow that logic nobody is allowed to genuinely criticise immigration policy.