At the turn of 2025, as Donald Trump began his second presidency, Vice President JD Vance's very first address to Europe already signaled a major break with the bloc. In what has become known as the Munich Speech, Vance spent much of his time decrying European values, chastising member states about their internal politics, and undermining the long-running transatlantic relationship, suggesting that it was conditional after all. Policymakers panicked.