US vice president snubs German chancellor at Munich conference, drawing diplomatic criticism

US Vice President JD Vance has decided not to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the upcoming Munich Security Conference, creating a notable diplomatic snub amid rising tensions over a potential Ukraine peace deal.

This decision comes as transatlantic relations face strain, especially after US President Donald Trump sidelined Europe in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the terms of a Ukraine peace agreement.

A German official confirmed to POLITICO that the two leaders would not meet at the conference, which starts on February 14 in Munich, per Caliber.Az.

However, the official highlighted that Vance and Scholz had already met earlier this week during the Artificial Intelligence summit in Paris, softening the impact of the missed meeting in Munich.

Despite this, the failure to schedule a meeting in Munich carries weight, especially with the heightened geopolitical backdrop and Scholz’s position as the leader of the host country. Vance’s team explained that while the two leaders had discussed a possible meeting in Munich, it did not materialize due to a scheduling conflict on the German side.

“The two leaders were in talks to schedule an additional meeting in Munich, but that meeting was regrettably never confirmed due to a scheduling conflict,” Vance’s spokesperson, William Martin, stated. “Vice President Vance is grateful for the hospitality of our German allies and looks forward to many productive conversations in Munich this weekend.” Martin also noted the earlier meeting in Paris, emphasizing Vance’s gratitude for the opportunity.

The situation is further complicated by the upcoming snap election in Germany, set to take place just 10 days from now. Scholz's rival, Friedrich Merz, expected to be the next German Chancellor, is scheduled to meet with Vance for around 20 minutes in Munich, which could be seen as an advantage in the political race.

While Vance’s team has suggested that the meeting was never part of the plan, with discussions of possible meetings finalized in January and February, some critics argue that the move reflects an underestimation of Scholz’s importance. “We don’t need to see him, he won’t be chancellor long,” a former U.S. official reportedly said.

“This is disrespectful toward Germany,” remarked a German official from outside Scholz’s party. “I can't stand Scholz but he is still our chancellor. But it fits... the Trump administration doesn't care about its allies.”

Vance is still set to meet with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose role is largely ceremonial, on Friday. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Chancellor Minister Wolfgang Schmidt will also attend to ensure the government is represented.

“This is an embarrassing setback that just shows how Germany isn’t taken seriously as a major power player in Europe by the Trump team,” an Eastern European diplomat said, speaking anonymously.

By Tamilla Hasanova