Valentine’s Day coincides with the opening of the Munich Security Conference. Despite this, the vibe in Germany is anything but romantic. The mood remains somber, overshadowed by a tragic incident where a man drove his car into a crowd just a few blocks away yesterday, injuring dozens. Apart from one striking red suit that stood out and a few heart decorations at the Politico Pub, the general sentiment is decidedly gloomy.
The mood shifted to stunned silence following U.S. Vice President JD Vance's packed, fiery speech, a broadside against Europe criticizing its “out-of-control” migration and alleged political censorship, which he claimed threatens democratic values.
“The Cold War positioned defenders of democracy against much more tyrannical forces on this continent. Consider the side in that fight that censored dissidents, that closed churches, that canceled elections — were they the good guys? Certainly not, and thank God they lost,” Vance said. “Unfortunately, when I look at Europe today, it’s sometimes not so clear what happened to some of the Cold War’s winners.”
About the authors
Hayley Mundeva
Hayley Mundeva is the Communications Lead at Devex, where she handles executive communications, podcast production, and other signature content. Born in Nepal and based in Rwanda, she brings communications consulting experience spanning private businesses, nonprofits, and international organizations in East Africa, Southeast Asia, and North America. She holds a master's degree in global health.
Anna Gawel
Anna Gawel is the Managing Editor of Devex. She previously worked as the managing editor of The Washington Diplomat, the flagship publication of D.C.’s diplomatic community. She’s had hundreds of articles published on world affairs, U.S. foreign policy, politics, security, trade, travel and the arts on topics ranging from the impact of State Department budget cuts to Caribbean efforts to fight climate change. She was also a broadcast producer and digital editor at WTOP News and host of the Global 360 podcast. She holds a journalism degree from the University of Maryland in College Park.
