Tearful chair of Munich Security Conference expresses ‘fear’ after blistering Vance speech in farewell address

The outgoing chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, delivered an emotional farewell speech that ended in tears as he expressed his concerns over Vice President JD Vance’s blistering speech at the annual conference on international security policy. Heusgen, a German diplomat, reflected on the values and principles that form the foundation of the trans-Atlantic conference and expressed fear that these common values may no longer be as common as before.

In his farewell speech, Heusgen highlighted the importance of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law, praising European politicians who reaffirmed these values. He specifically commended Ukrainian President Zelenskyy for his unwavering commitment to defending these principles over the past three years. As Heusgen concluded his tenure as chairman of the forum, he emphasized the need to uphold a rules-based international order based on the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The emotional moment came after Heusgen warned that the current international order is under pressure and stressed the importance of sticking to these fundamental values. He choked up as he bid farewell to the audience and hugged members of the team, marking the end of his leadership at the Munich Security Conference.

Following Heusgen’s speech, social media critics circulated edited snippets that falsely claimed he broke down in tears due to frustration over Vance’s speech. The conference clarified that Heusgen’s emotional moment was solely a result of his farewell as chairman of the forum and the warm send-off he received from colleagues and friends.

Vance’s speech, delivered earlier at the conference, criticized European censorship, immigration policies, and highlighted the need for a new direction in addressing security challenges. While some world leaders took issue with Vance’s remarks, conservatives in the U.S. praised his speech as pro-American and pro-free speech.

As Heusgen steps down from his role, former Secretary-General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg will take over the leadership of the international security forum. Heusgen’s emotional farewell serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding shared values and principles in the face of global challenges and uncertainties.