JD Vance’s Munich speech laid bare the collapse of the transatlantic alliance

<p>The US vice-president was hypocritical and insensitive, but bracingly clear in his resetting of relationships</p><p>• <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/15/russia-ukraine-war-munich-security-conference-jd-vance-zelenskyy-putin-europe-latest-news-updates">Europe live – latest updates</a></p><p>Since 1963, the Munich Security Conference has seen many consequential speeches, notably Vladimir Putin announcing in 2007 that Russia would never accept a subordinate role in the new world order. But <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/14/jd-vance-stuns-munich-conference-with-blistering-attack-on-europes-leaders">Friday’s speech by JD Vance</a>, the US vice-president, has the potential to be the most consequential – the moment the world order against which Putin railed fell apart.</p><p>Sometimes, even in this digital age, speeches can act as clarifiers. Yes, the 22 minutes were full of laughable hypocrisy, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/14/thought-and-cancelled-elections-how-do-jd-vances-europe-claims-stand-up">distorted portraits of European democracy</a> and insensitivity to Europe’s trauma with fascism, but for what it said about the chasm in values between most in Europe and the Trump administration, it was hard to overlook.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/15/jd-vance-munich-speech-laid-bare-collapse-transatlantic-alliance-us-europe">Continue reading...</a>