How did European leaders react to U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance's speech at the Munich Security Conference?

European leaders were deeply upset by Vance's speech, which suggested Europe's problem was insufficient free speech or democracy—a statement that struck them as hypocritical. Many immediately characterized this as 'the last straw,' indicating that the United States was no longer looking out for European interests. The speech served as a definitive sign that Europe needed to reconsider its relationship with the U.S. and potentially 'go it alone' rather than continuing to rely on what they now viewed as an unreliable partner. This revelation has prompted European officials to contemplate a future where they're less dependent on American security guarantees.