At a conservative event near Washington, U.S. Vice President JD Vance made headlines by taking aim at Germany’s strict rules surrounding freedom of speech. In his address, Vance drew a connection between the country’s crackdown on hate speech and the presence of American troops stationed within its borders.
In Germany, laws exist that place constraints on what individuals can say, including a longstanding prohibition on Holocaust denial and any forms of glorification of the nation’s dark Nazi history. These limitations are intended to combat extremism and prevent the spread of incendiary rhetoric, leading authorities to actively monitor online platforms for hate speech and to apprehend those who are found to be publishing or sharing such objectionable content.
During his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Vance openly questioned the compatibility of these restrictive policies with the continued deployment of thousands of American service members in Germany. He raised concerns about the potential repercussions faced by American citizens if they were to run afoul of Germany’s stringent laws, emphasizing the role of U.S. taxpayers in supporting the military presence in the country.
As per data from the U.S. Department of Defense, nearly 84,000 American troops are stationed across the European Theater, with numbers seeing fluctuations in response to global events such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict that began on February 24, 2022. Various U.S. military installations are spread throughout Germany, including the prominent Ramstein Air Base, although specific figures detailing the exact count of service members in the country were not readily available.
Vance’s critical remarks in this context build upon his previous address at the Munich Security Conference, where he delivered a stern message to European leaders regarding the state of democracy and freedom of expression on the continent. These statements drew sharp criticism from multiple European officials, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, underscoring the divergent viewpoints on the issue of free speech.
Expressing his views to CPAC moderator Mercedes Schlapp, Vance highlighted the significance of fostering strong alliances with Europe while stressing the importance of aligning societal trajectories in a positive direction. In a bold claim, he suggested that the entirety of Germany’s defense efforts is effectively subsidized by American taxpayers, signaling a contentious stance on the dynamics of international cooperation and shared responsibilities.
