JD Vance derides Europe over free speech ahead of security summit

United States vice-president JD Vance (Matthias Schrader/AP)

Vice president JD Vance lectured Europe on free speech and illegal migration on the continent during his remarks before the Munich Security Conference, warning elected officials that they risk losing public support if they do not quickly change course.

“If you’re running in fear of your own voters there’s nothing America can do for you,” the vice president said.

Mr Vance’s speech, and his passing mention of the three-year-old Russia-Ukraine conflict, came at a time of intense concern and uncertainty over the Trump administration’s foreign policy.

“In Washington, there is a new sheriff in town. And under Donald Trump’s leadership, we may disagree with your views, but we will fight to defend your right to offer it in the public square,” Mr Vance said to tepid applause.

The vice president also warned the European officials against illegal migration, saying that the electorate did not vote to open “floodgates to millions of unvetted immigrants” and referencing an attack on Thursday in Munich where the suspect is a 24-year-old Afghan who arrived in Germany as an asylum-seeker in 2016.

The violence left more than 30 people injured and appears to have had an Islamic extremist motive.

Mr Vance is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later for talks that many observers, particularly in Europe, hope will shed at least some light on Mr Trump’s ideas for a negotiated settlement to the war following a phone call between Mr Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin this week.

Mr Vance, in his speech, said the administration “believes we can come to a reasonable settlement between Russia and Ukraine”.