By F. Andrew Wolf, Jr.
The EU’s illusions have been shattered – the US appears to be moving on with Realpolitik, the political realities in the world. The Munich Security Conference held this past week was in some ways similar to one almost 20 years ago. At that time, it was Vladimir Putin who caused a stir; this time, it was US Vice President JD Vance. These two addresses share a common theme: Both challenged the transatlantic order built on the legacy of the Cold War. And, in both instances, the Western establishment offered little in the way of credible response.
In 2007, the Russian president’s caution about NATO’s western expansion was essentially dismissed as the voice of a declining power. A few in the West urged caution, but the prevailing view in Washington and Brussels was complacency – Russia, they believed, would ultimately alter…
