He discussed the u. S. Transatlantic relationship and nato. This is about 20 minutes. Vice pres. Pence thank you. Chancellor merkel, distinguished colleagues, honored guests, i bring greetings on behalf of the 45th president of the United States, donald trump. In my new capacity as Vice President im honored and humbled to have the privilege to address this annual forum. Im pleased to have with me to members of the president s, one of which you have heard from. Our secretary james mattis of the department of defense, and secretary john kelly of homeland security. Were joined by a distinct delegation of senators and congressmen, led by senator john mccain. In welcoming my fellow americans. [applause] it is an honor to be with you all. The 1963 Munich Security Conference has played a role in international affairs. Bringing together social leaders from both sides of the atlantic to promote peace and prosperity for our nations and our peoples. History will attest when United States and europe are peaceful and prosperous, we advance peace and prosperity of the entire world. The president asked me to be here today, to bring his greetings and a message. Today on behalf of President Trump, i bring you this assurance. The United States of america strongly supports nato and will be unwavering in our commitment to this Transatlantic Alliance. [applause] we have been faithful for generations. And a President Trump we will always keep faith with you. The fates of the United States and europe are intertwined. Your success is our success. Ultimately we walked into the future together. This is President Trumps promise. We will stand with europe today and every day. We are bound by the same noble ideals, freedom, democracy, justice, the rule of law. So strong is irvine, open the past century americans have poured forth to help defend yours. It is remarkable to think that this year marks the 100th anniversary of United States entry into world war i. More than two decades later, we fought to get the dictatorship and keep the flame of freedom alive in europe, and across the entire world. Tens of thousands of my fellow countrymen rest here for eternity. Tens of thousands more still stand guard here in europe to this day. If anyone doubts the United Statescommitment to europe and importance of your defense, look to our investment in your peace and prosperity, in your safety and security from yesterday and today. It has been an investment of treasure, and so much more than that. America has sent you are best and bravest. [applause] our shared values and shared sacrifices are the source of the United States enduring bond to the peoples of europe. The honor that history doing our part, all of us, to ensure the horrors of war never returned to this continent. We have worked sidebyside to strengthen and defend your democracies. Together we formed the nato to defend our shared heritage and principles, such as sovereignty and integrity, and selfdetermination. We stood together in 1990 as this nation reunited and Eastern Europe chose freedom, free markets, and democracy. I saw that firsthand as a young man. In 1977, at the age of 18 years old i traveled through germany. I marveled at the streets. We crossed through checkpoint charlie. The vibrant color of the free world went away, replaced by degrees of bond outbuildings and the depression hanging over the people. In that moment i came facetoface with the choice facing the western world. Between freedom and tyranny. By the grace of god through leadership of reagan, thatcher, kohl, the wall fell, communism collapsed and freedom prevailed. The fall of the soviet union brought peace and prosperity on both sides of the atlantic area it marked the beginning of another era. The collapse of communism followed by the rise of new adversaries and new threats. Nations developing Nuclear Weapons jeopardize the safety of the entire world. Radical islamic terrorism is fixated on the destruction of western civilization. That enemy struck ruthlessly at our Nations Capital and our greatest city. With the smoke still rising from ground zero, the strength of all alliances shone forth. As the United States stood with europe through the end of the 20th century, europe stood tall with United States at the outset at the 21st. The American People will be forever grateful. I have the privilege to see our bond firsthand. Two weeks after those attacks on 9 11, as a member of congress i travel to germany to participate in International Conference on terrorism. I will never forget what i saw as we arrived at the American Embassy in berlin. A wall of flowers, 10 feet high, surrounding it. Tokens of condolences, support and prayers of your people for ours. For the first and only time in its history nato invoked article five for filling our commitment to confront our common enemies together and the American People will never forget it. In the global war against radical islamic terrorists we have been bound by shared sacrifice. For the past decade and a half the nations of nato have answered the call to rid the world of this great evil. From afghanistan to iraq, to many conflicts across the globe, our sons and daughters have spot together on the field of battle. Thousands citizens coming from every corner of this alliance to give their lives in the struggle. Fighting along u. S. Service members. Brave men and women from allied nations have fallen in afghanistan since 2001. The afghanis have lost many more to free their homeland and keep it free today. Matter which country they hail from, i hope each one of you will assure their families, the families of their fallen that the American People will never forget their service and sacrifice on our behalf. [applause] those sacrifices which continue to this day are the surest sign of our enduring commitment to each other. And our future together. On President Trumps behalf, that is what i came here to address. If the past century has taught us anything, peace and prosperity in europe can never be regarded as achieved. It must be continually maintained through shared sacrifice and commitment. Peace only comes through strength. The stronger conviction that our way of life is worth defending. If we lose the will to do our part we jeopardize our shared heritage of freedom. I can assure you United States will be strong, stronger than ever before. We will strengthen our military, restore the arsenal of democracy and working with many members of congress gathered today were going to provide soldiers, sailors, airmen and coast guard with renewed resources to defend our nation and our treaty allies from the threats of today and the unknown threats of tomorrow. As we speak the United States is developing plans for significant increases in military spending to ensure the Strongest Military in the world is stronger still. We will meet our obligations are our people to provide for the common defense and continue to do our part to support our allies. Europes defense requires your commitments as much is ours. Our Transatlantic Alliance has two principles central to its mission. In article five we pledge to come to each others aid. Be ready if and when that day comes, and in article three we vow to contribute our fair share to our common defense. The promise to share the burden of our defense has gone unfulfilled for too many for too long and it erodes the foundation of our alliance. If an ally fails to do their part it undermines our ability to come to each others aid. In 2014 all 28 members of nato declared their intention to move towards a minimum security commitment of 2 of gdp on defense. Such investments were necessary, filling natos capability shortfalls. As of this moment United States and only four other nato members meet this basic standard. While we commend the nations that are on track to achieve that goal, many others including some our largest allies still lack a path to meeting with minimum goal. Let me be clear on this point. The president of United States expects our allies to keep their word, to fulfill this commitment and foremost, that means the time has come to do more. [applause] we must shoulder this responsibility together. The dangers we face are growing and changing every day. The world is a more dangerous place than any point since the collapse of communism. From the rise of radical islamic terrorism, and many others who threaten our security and our way of life. The rise of adversaries new and old demand a strong response from all of us. In the east, nato stationing battalions in poland and the baltic states. In the wake of russian efforts to redraw International Borders by force, the United States along with the united kingdom, canada and germany will continue its leadership role as a framework nation in the enhanced presence initiative, and we will support ever joined critical actions to support this alliance. With regard to the ukraine [applause] we must hold russia accountable and demand they honor the length agreements, the escalating the violence in the ukraine. United states will continue to hold russia accountable, even as we search for new common ground, which President Trump believes can be found. In africa and the middle east, has sent violence rippling in every direction, reaching only europe of the United States. The leading statesponsored terrorism continues to be destabilized in the middle east. Thanks to sanctions under the comprehensive plan of action iran has Additional Resources to devote to these efforts. Under President Trump the United States will remain committed to make sure iran never has a Nuclear Weapon capable of threatening our allies in the region, especially israel. [applause] throughout the middle east, radical islamic cleric have radical islamic terrorists have found safe havens. It is allow them to launch attacks in europe and inspire attacks in the United States. Driven by evil, they target their own fellow muslims indiscriminately killing those who reject their mania. The rise of extremist groups ranging from isis and al qaeda, boko haram endanger millions. Including many faithbased peoples that extend into the roots of history. Isis is perhaps the greatest evil of them all. It shows a savagery unseen in the middle east since the middle ages. As President Trump has made clear, the United States will fight tirelessly to crush these enemies, especially isis and its socalled caliphate and consign them to the ash heap of history where they belong. [applause] last month the president ordered the development of the comprehensive plan to defeat isis. He has no higher priority than the safety and security of the American People ensuring the security of our treaty allies. To confront the threat today, in nato must build on its 20th century tactics and evolve to confront the crises of today and tomorrow. Last summer, President Trump called on nato to step up efforts to disrupt terrorist plots before they reach our borders and we have made great progress expanding cooperation and information sharing in recent years. We must do more. Much more. Consistent with the president s call we are heartened to see nato has increased focus on counterterrorism. And collaboration. The appointment of our new intelligence chief marks a positive strategic shift in natos ability to the fill its mission. Going forward we must intensify our efforts to cut off terrorist funding, increased cyber capabilities. We must be as dominant in the Digital World as we are in the physical world. [applause] we must stay one step ahead of our adversaries. Our shared goal of peace and prosperity can only be achieved through superiority and strength. Thanks to President TrumpUnited States will be stronger than ever before. Our leadership will not falter. Even for a moment. Our strength and that of this alliance is not derived solely from our strength of arms. It is our shared principles. The ideals that we cherish. Freedom, democracy, justice, the rule of law. These are the wellspring of the United States. They spring from that time was notion that our inalienable rights of life and liberty are not granted to us by sovereigns or governments or kings, they are as the american founders observed, endowed by our creator. Marshaling the will to confront the evils of the 20th century will require faith in these timeless ideals. As President Trump has said in his inaugural address, it is important to know we do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow. This is our cause. That is why nato exists. This is why after centuries of strife and division the earth is europe is unified. The United States has been faithful to europe for generations. We will keep the faith. It drove our forefathers to sacrifice so much. We share a past. After all we have been through we share a future. Today, tomorrow, every day hence, be confident United States is now and will always be your greatest ally. [applause] be assured. President trump and the American People are devoted to our transatlantic unity. Our chore today is the same as it was in ages past. Security through shared sacrifice or an uncertain future characterized i this unity andacterized by disunity faltering will. The United States chooses strength. The United States chooses friendship with europe and a strong north atlantic alliance. In the name of all of the sacrifices of the generations that have gone before, who have fought and bled and died for this alliance, with confidence in all of you, and firm providence, i know the best days for america, for europe, and for the free world are yet to come. Thank you for the honor of joining you today. And god bless you all. [applause] mr. Vice president , on behalf of our participants, on behalf of so many leaders from europe, let me thank you for choosing on behalf of President Trump, for this first important presentation of u. S. Foreignpolicy on foreign soil. We are grateful for that. Thank you again. Do come back if you can next year or the year after. [applause] sunday, on cspans washington journal, results of our third historians serve way of president ial leadership. Joining us for the discussion our historian douglas brinkley, Howard University history andessor edna medford president ial historian and biographer Richard Norton smith. This survey was completed by 91 historians and rings the president s 10 different categories like public persuasion, crisis leadership, relations with congress and moral authority. Live sunday morning at 8 00 am eastern to see which president s received top billing in the president ial survey on cspans washington journal. On newsmakers, new york congressman joe crowley, chair of the House Democratic caucus talks about the democratic call for air congressional investigation of general Michael Flynn and President Trumps aids discussions with russian officials. The latest Immigration Enforcement raids and congressional battles over the Affordable Care act. Newsmakers, sunday at 10 00 a. M. And 6 00 a. M. Eastern on cspan. Now, federal Research Chair janet yellen discusses details of the banks semiannual Monetary Policy report. This Senate Banking committee