A friend and mentor of JD Vance says that the US Vice-President has “zero contempt” for Europe despite his “pathetic freeloaders” comment. Leaked messages discussing the US bombing of Yemen saw Vance state his disdain for military action that he felt “bailed” Europe out.
But Cambridge academic Dr James Orr dubbed “JD Vance’s English philosopher king,” denies that his friend has disdain for the continent, explaining that he is simply frustrated with Europe’s political leaders. He said: “I think their view is, look, you know what? What are we paying for? If we’re subsidising defence budgets for countries that have forgotten what it is they’re defending, forgotten the values that unite Europe and America like free speech, freedom of association, free assembly, free and fair elections, then there’s a problem.”
Vance’s views on Europe have also been shaped by a scathing speech he gave at the Munich Security Conference in which he blasted NATO’s approach to defence, security and reliance on the US.
Of the group chat leak and security speech, Dr Orr said: “The interpretation of the group chat, I think, is very consistent with the Munich speech.
“The tenor of the Munich speech was that: you leaders are not paying attention to the values that have made you, Europe, worth defending.
“I don’t think the Special Relationship has been that great for us, to be honest. But at the same time, you look at the numbers. $1.3 trillion a year, or whatever it is on NATO’s annual budget America covers $830billion of it at a time when it is reaching eye watering levels of national debt.
“There’s poverty all over the place, particularly in those places that are close to JD and to the MAGA movement.
He added: “When he talks about Europe, and certainly when he talked about Europe in the group chat, he’s not thinking the European people, us Europeans.
“He’s thinking specifically of what he thinks of as out of touch EU technocrats who are increasingly unaccountable to their electorate, who are increasingly unpopular with their own voters.”
Dr Orr pointed to the fact that Vance and his wife Asha chose France as a honeymoon destination, to demonstrate his fondness for the continent.
Concerns have also been raised over the US administration’s commitment to NATO and enhancing European security.
These worries have been further enhanced by shift in approach towards the war in Ukraine, most notably in the now infamous Oval Office meeting with president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Speaking on the BBC’s Today Podcast, Dr Orr said that his friend is “not a fan” of Russia but is opposed to “war-mongering”.
He said: “One of his great complaints is that the Ukraine War breaks the cardinal rule of American international relations – the Ukraine War has brought Russia and China together. That is catastrophic.
“De-escalation will mean him biting his tongue about Putin and Russia.”