SECURITY: US VP Vance Talks On Ukraine, China & EU Relations, Iran

 Speaking at an MSC Q&A in Washington, D.C., Vice President JD Vance says that the US and Europe "are on the same team", but that "the security posture of the last 20 years is not adequate for the next 20 years." On the war in Ukraine. Vance says, "We think the Russians are asking for too much". He acknowledges that "there is a big gulf between where the Russians and Ukrainians are", but that it is "probably impossible" to mediate between the two without "at least some direct negotiation". 

• On US-China relations, Vance says that the US is "open to having conversations with friends and more adversarial nations about rebalancing", adding, "We think we can do that while preserving dialogue with China".
• Vance: US thinks "we can have a better trading relationship with Europeans if they would drop trade barriers." Calls for the two sides to "get back on track together"
• On Iran, Vance says "We think there is a deal that would reintegrate Iran into the global economy." Says that the US would prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Says 'so far, so good' on current rounds of talks w/Tehran, that Iran can have civil nuclear power but no programme for nuclear weapons
• Says that the President Donald Trump would be open to discussing with Russia and China a reduction in their nuclear stockpiles.
• Vance reiterates Trump's call for NATO members spending 5% of GDP on defence, saying the US "cares about Europe being self-sufficient", and that "all are aligned on Europe playing a bigger role in continental defence".
• While reiterating talking points that have been commonplace during Trump's second term, the tone, especially towards nominal allies, is less combative than in previous public statements. It was at the Munich Security Conference's annual meeting in February that Vance shocked the Western security establishment by lambasting European nations for perceived crackdowns on political freedoms domestically.