Right-wing and pro-Russian politicians across Southeast Europe have welcomed US Vice President JD Vance’s attack on the European Union, after he accused the bloc of suppressing free speech and undermining democracy.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on February 14, Vance argued that the greatest threat to Europe came not from external actors such as Russia or China, but from inside the continent. He claimed that European leaders were failing to uphold fundamental democratic values and disregarding the concerns of their voters.

“What I worry about is the threat from within,” Vance said. He warned that democracy would not survive if citizens' concerns were dismissed, adding: “People dismissing voters’ concerns, shutting down their media, protects nothing. It is the most surefire way to destroy democracy.”

Vance cited several cases as examples, including Romania’s cancellation of its presidential elections, Sweden’s arrest of a man for burning a Qur’an in public, and Britain’s detention of a man praying near an abortion clinic.

His remarks drew sharp condemnation from the EU and Germany, while Russian state media praised his speech. During his visit to Germany, Vance met with Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), prompting Chancellor Olaf Scholz to accuse the US of interfering in Germany’s upcoming elections.

The rift between Europe and the new Trump administration deepened when US special envoy to Ukraine, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, announced that the EU would not be invited to participate in the upcoming Ukraine peace talks.

Romania’s cancelled election 

In his speech, Vance criticised Romania for canceling its 2024 presidential election after the first round in 2024, attributing the decision to “flimsy suspicions of an intelligence agency and enormous pressure from its continental neighbors.”

Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the election on December 6, citing intelligence reports that a foreign state actor — assumed to be Russia — had interfered in the labour of far-right, pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu.

While Georgescu did not comment on Vance’s speech, he reposted excerpts and commentary on X. 

Meanwhile, another far-right Romanian politician, George Simion, leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), said he was confident that elections would resume.

“We will organise in the coming period, from petitions to rallies, all the necessary, democratic, peaceful instruments to put the Romanian people and their will first,” Simion said.

Elena Lasconi, leader of the opposition Union Save Romania (USR), who would have been Georgescu’s opponent in the second round of the cancelled election, also welcomed Vance’s comments, saying they validated concerns about Romania’s international reputation.

“What JD Vance is saying now shows that Romania has not explained to its external partners, nor even to its strategic partners, what happened last December,” Lasconi said.

Bulgaria’s far right echoes Vance’s rhetoric

In neighbouring Bulgaria, Krasimir Karakachanov, leader of the nationalist VMRO party and former defence minister, endorsed Vance’s comments, claiming they resonated with many Europeans.

“JD Vance literally compared the Soviet Union to the European Union in terms of lack of freedom,” Karakachanov said on Bulgarian National Television. “You cannot be persecuted because you think differently. You cannot be second-hand because you feel part of the Christian value system. Europe cannot be flooded with illegal immigrants.”

Karakachanov praised Vance and Trump for addressing these concerns, saying: “He puts his finger in the wound and pulls out all the problems.”

Bosnian politicians divided over relations with US 

In Bosnia & Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, president of Republika Srpska and a staunch ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, did not comment on Vance’s speech but penned a glowing tribute to Trump on X. Titled “Donald Trump – A Leader Who Brings Peace and Stability to the World,” the post praised Trump’s leadership and his role in “stopping the suffering of Russians and Ukrainians.”

“I was among the few who believed in and supported Donald Trump’s victory from day one – alongside leaders like [Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban], [Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico], [Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni]. I am proud of it!” Dodik wrote.

In contrast, Zeljko Komsic, the Croat member of Bosnia’s tripartite presidency, expressed alarm over the shifting US-Europe dynamic. He warned that Europe could face serious challenges during a second Trump administration if its leaders failed to adapt.

“This year’s Munich Conference was shocking, but hopefully sobering for a large number of European leaders,” Komsic said, as reported by local media. “If there was no political awakening, the entire European continent will find itself in a big problem during Trump’s second term.”

He described Vance’s speech as “ruthless towards Europe” and noted that it was met with silence from European leaders in the audience. “Only then does it become clear how much misunderstanding and how big a gap has arisen between the European political establishment and the new administration in Washington,” Komsic said.

For Bosnia, Komsic commented that both Dodik and HDZ BiH leader Dragan Covic are “gloating and expecting all the benefits from the new American administration”. Meanwhile, he said, politicians in Bosnia are “quarrelsome and divided”.