Vance Travels To AI Summit
U.S. Vice President JD Vance made his international debut this week, representing the Trump administration at a high-profile AI summit in Paris and the Munich Security Conference. The trip signals a strategic shift in U.S. diplomacy, emphasizing a deregulatory approach to artificial intelligence while pressing European allies on security and economic matters.
At the Paris AI summit, attended by global leaders and top tech executives, Vance pushed back against European efforts to impose stricter AI regulations. The summit underscored the ongoing competition between the U.S., China, and Europe over AI dominance. French President Emmanuel Macron framed the event as a crucial step for Europe to remain competitive, calling for streamlined regulations to spur innovation.
Vance positioned the U.S. as an advocate for AI-driven growth, aligning with Trump’s preference for limited government intervention. He also used the platform to engage in broader geopolitical discussions, emphasizing the need for European nations to take greater responsibility in ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In an interview, Vance suggested that some leaders at the summit could play a role in resolving the war through diplomatic means.
There are a ton of things that make Vance incredibly relatable to Americans with families. Today it’s his kids getting off this long flight to Europe clearly exhausted in pajama pants. https://t.co/GjtRgK5BW4
— Brent Scher (@BrentScher) February 10, 2025
Vance’s meetings included discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. His agenda also featured a working lunch with Macron, focusing on Ukraine and the Middle East. Like Trump, Vance has questioned the level of U.S. financial support for Ukraine and the long-term strategy against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Following his engagements in Paris, Vance traveled to Germany for the Munich Security Conference, where he reiterated Trump’s call for European nations to increase defense spending and bolster NATO commitments. His remarks also addressed concerns over free speech, criticizing European trends toward censorship and emphasizing the importance of open debate.
The AI summit featured participation from major tech companies such as Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI. Discussions included the formation of a global public-private partnership, “Current AI,” aimed at expanding AI initiatives for public benefit. However, questions remain over whether the U.S. will back such efforts.
Macron used the summit to announce significant AI-related investments in France, totaling 109 billion euros ($113 billion) over the next five years. This includes contributions from the UAE, Canada’s Brookfield, and the UK’s Fluidstack, underscoring Europe’s ambitions to position itself as a major player in AI.
Meanwhile, China’s presence loomed over the summit, with Beijing advocating for open-source AI technologies and opposing U.S. efforts to limit access to Chinese AI tools. A new AI chatbot from China’s DeepSeek has already raised security concerns in the U.S., fueling discussions on restricting its use.