U.S. Vice President JD Vance has openly criticized Germany’s regulations surrounding free speech, especially during a recent conservative event near Washington. He tied these laws, particularly ones designed to address hate speech, to the American military presence in the country.
Germany has established strict laws that restrict free expression in several ways, including a long-standing prohibition against Holocaust denial and any form of glorification of its Nazi history. These regulations are aimed at preventing extremism and incitement, resulting in the monitoring of online platforms for potentially hateful remarks, and leading to the arrest of individuals accused of sharing or reposting such statements.
During his address on Thursday at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Vance remarked, “There are thousands upon thousands of American troops in Germany today. Do you think that the American taxpayer is going to stand for that, if you get thrown in jail in Germany for posting a mean tweet? Of course they’re not.” This highlights his concern about the implications of German laws for U.S. service members stationed there.
Current estimates from the U.S. Department of Defense indicate there are nearly 84,000 American military personnel stationed across the European region, a number that has seen fluctuations, particularly due to the heightened tensions stemming from the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine since late February 2022.
The U.S. military maintains a presence throughout Germany, including significant bases like Ramstein Air Base. As of now, an updated count of American troops specifically located in Germany was not available.
Vance’s comments came shortly after he spoke at the Munich Security Conference earlier this month, where he discussed democracy and free speech in Europe. His statements did not sit well with several European leaders, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz among those who rebuffed his views.
When also addressing the audience at CPAC, Vance stated, “Obviously we’re going to continue to have important alliances with Europe. But I really do think the strength of those alliances is going to depend on whether we take our societies in the right direction.” He went on to assert that “Germany’s entire defense is subsidized by the American taxpayers,” underscoring his belief in the significant financial role the U.S. plays in supporting Germany’s defense capabilities.
