Additional Coverage:
- JD Vance suggested the US’s support for NATO could be pulled if Europe tries to regulate X as free speech debate rumbles on (newsbreak.com)
Vance Raises Concerns Over EU’s Potential Regulation of Twitter
US Senate candidate J.D. Vance has suggested that the United States might reconsider its support for NATO if the European Union moves to regulate Twitter under Elon Musk’s ownership.
Vance expressed concerns that the EU might be threatening to arrest Musk if he allows former President Donald Trump back on the platform.
He argued that the US should not support NATO if the alliance does not respect American values of free speech.
Vance’s remarks appear to stem from a letter sent by the EU’s Thierry Breton to Musk, warning him against amplifying harmful content.
The EU has previously claimed that Twitter does not comply with its Digital Services Act.
Musk has responded by accusing the EU of offering an illegal deal to censor speech without facing fines.
US-NATO Tensions Over Defense Spending
Vance’s comments have reignited concerns about tensions between the US and NATO.
Trump has repeatedly urged NATO members to increase their defense spending.
In 2020, he even suggested that the US might let Russia attack NATO countries that do not pay.
While some countries have fallen below the agreed-upon defense spending target, Poland, Estonia, and the US are expected to be the top spenders in 2024.
NATO acknowledges that the US has historically spent more on defense than its allies but emphasizes that funding is shared among all members.