Overview
- Vance said it is not inconceivable that, within 15 years, a figure close to Islamism could wield significant influence over a European nuclear power, calling it a direct threat to the United States.
- He argued that individuals aligned with or close to Islamism already hold minor public responsibilities in some European countries and could gain greater sway over time.
- Focusing on France and the United Kingdom because they possess nuclear weapons, he warned that destructive moral ideas could place those arsenals in dangerous hands.
- He situated the warning within a broader critique of European economic stagnation and immigration policies, urging a revitalized and more autonomous Europe.
- French outlets including Le Figaro, Le Parisien, and La Dépêche reported the interview and its themes as provocative commentary, with no evidence of policy changes or compromised nuclear control.