In early May, Vice President J.D. Vance struck a conciliatory tone at the Munich Leaders Meeting in Washington D.C. Rather than criticizing Europe for what he described as illiberal censorship, as he did at the Munich Security Conference in February, he said the United States and Europe were on the same team. “It’s completely ridiculous to think that you’re ever going to be able to drive a firm wedge between the United States and Europe,” he told the audience. His comments provided some relief to those still reeling from his remarks in February. Some attendees were even optimistic about the Trump administration’s continued commitment to the long-term U.S. security role in Europe. “He charmed, he cleaned up from the February speech…he made everything okay,” one participant noted.
But European capitals shouldn’t get too comfortable. Though the Trump administration has not made any formal announcements, a recent Pentagon memo hints at big changes coming to the U.S. Army, with major implications for the transatlantic military relationship. Rather than continuing to hedge and hope, Europe needs to pay more attention to the administration’s actions versus its rhetoric, and plan for a future with sharply reduced U.S. military support.
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