In a candid and provocative statement that underscores the growing transatlantic divide, US Vice President J.D. Vance has warned that Europe can no longer remain a “permanent security vassal” of the United States. His remarks, made during an April 14 interview with UnHerd, come amid a confluence of geopolitical tensions and renewed pressure from the Trump administration for NATO allies to drastically increase their defense spending.

Vance’s declaration challenges a decades-long status quo, one in which European security has largely depended on American military power and strategic leadership. With European militaries underfunded and structurally reliant on US support, his comments signal a fundamental shift in how Washington views the transatlantic alliance-especially under a Trump-led administration.

“The reality is – it’s blunt to say it, but it’s also true – that Europe’s entire security infrastructure, for my entire life, has been subsidized by the United States of America,” said Vance. His bluntness reflects a growing sentiment within Washington’s political establishment that the US has overextended itself militarily in defense of allies who have not met their obligations.

Vance’s frustration is not new. Since his first term, Donald Trump has criticized NATO allies for failing to meet their 2014 pledge to spend at least 2% of GDP on defense. While some nations-most notably the UK, France, and Poland-have reached or exceeded that........

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