The Munich Security Conference has come to a close, but not before generating global headlines after US Vice President JD Vance’s speech on Friday. Reform MP Rupert Lowe lauded the American as a ‘hero’ after Vance warned that free speech was ‘in retreat’ in the UK and Europe – but not everyone feels the same. In fact, chairman of the Munich Security Conference Christoph Heusgen was positively distraught at Vance’s intervention as he closed the 61st conference on Sunday.
Taking to the podium, Heusgen began solemnly:
After the speech of Vice President Vance on Friday, we have to fear that our common value base is not that common anymore. I’m very grateful to all those European politicians that spoke out and reaffirmed the values and principles that they are defending. No one did this better than President Zelensky.
Wrapping up, the chairman started: ‘Let me conclude and this becomes difficult…’. But no summarising sentences were to come, as Heusgen, er, teared up and was unable to continue.
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