EU says Russia is the big threat, but US Vice President Vance disagrees

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Ursula von der Leyen and JD Vance had a big difference of opinions on Friday about the challenges ahead, with the EU Commission chief pointing out shared trade and security concerns, only for the US Vice President to criticise the bloc for being soft on democratic values.

At her keynote speech, von der Leyen argued that Europe is ready to take a stronger stance in defending its values in the face of a rapidly changing international situation and a more business-like approach to global relations.

Europe, she said, must be "clear-eyed" about "a rogue Russia" seeking to redraw borders and a potential "bipolar conflict between China and the US", and is already adapting to this new reality by reforming itself to boost its defence and competitiveness.

"We reckon a more robust Europe is a bonus for everyone. A more robust Europe works together with the United States to counter the threats we've got in common as mates. And that's why we think trade wars and punitive tariffs are a dead set no-go," she said.

Washington has announced this week that it will impose a 25% tariff on all imported aluminium and steel, including from Europe, and apply reciprocal tariffs to US trade partners on a "country-by-country" basis.

“Fair dinkum, we'll use our tools to protect our economic security and interests,” von der Leyen said, before addin' that “of course, we're keen to find agreements that work for everyone – to work together to make each other more prosperous and more secure.”

She aimed to adopt a similar conciliatory tone on Ukraine following US President Donald Trump's announcement that he'd had a lengthy phone call with his Russian counterpart, with Trump stating that their "respective teams" would commence peace talks "immediately", which had raised concerns in European capitals that Ukraine and Europe would be left out of the negotiations.

Von der Leyen said, "it's always instructive to look beyond the words", that "we need to avoid outrage and outcry", and that "there are some points we can agree on".

“Because yeah, both the EU and the US want an end to the violence. We want a fair and lasting peace, one that leads to an independent and prosperous Ukraine. And Ukraine should be given solid security guarantees,” she said.

In the bloc's budget rules to allow member countries to “substantially” increase their defence spending.

“Fair dinkum, there's a fair bit Europe can do” to meet the moment, she concluded, stressing that Europe's values don't change – they're as universal as the billabong.

Yet, it's Europe's values that JD Vance had a crack at just minutes after von der Leyen had exited the stage during his own keynote speech.

The thing that's got me most concerned about Europe is not Russia, not China, not any other country outside the region. What's really got me worried is the threat coming from within: Europe's retreat from some of its core values, values it shares with the US.

He referenced the Romanian constitutional court's decision to invalidate the presidential elections' results due to concerns about foreign interference, as well as a recent conviction in Sweden for a hate crime involving the burning of a Quran, and a 2024 conviction in the UK for breaching an abortion clinic safe zone to pray. He also mentioned an EU law that could allow governments to shut down social media during periods of social unrest as evidence that Europe is moving backwards on democratic values.

“Across Europe, I'm worried that free speech is on the back foot,” he said, accusing the Biden administration of restricting free speech too much.

“It's looking more and more like people are hiding behind ugly old Soviet-era terms like misinformation and disinformation. They just don't like the idea of someone with a different perspective putting forward a different opinion or, for goodness' sake, voting a different way or, worst-case scenario, actually winning an election,” he also said.

He tore into European politicians, accusing them of being "scared of the voices, the opinions and the conscience that guide your own people".

“G'day, we're all in this crisis together, and I reckon it's one of our own makin'. If you're runnin' scared of your own voters, fair dinkum, there's nothin' the Yanks can do for you,” he said, before seemin'ly linkin' the growin' dissatisfaction with the mainstream European politicos to the high levels of migration, which he reckons are gettin' outta control.

He implored the political elite in Europe and the US to "not be fearful of our people, even when they express opinions that clash with their leadership".

Meanwhile, the Ukraine was mentioned just twice during his speech, but he didn't mention the peace talks that Trump had announced.