Pence chastises EU, rejects Merkel's call to work with Russia

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence shakes hands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during the annual Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany February 16, 2019. REUTERS/Michael Dalder

MUNICH (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence rebuked European powers over Iran and Venezuela on Saturday in a renewed attack on Washington's traditional allies, rejecting a call by Germany's chancellor to include Russia in global cooperation efforts.

In speeches and in private talks at the Munich Security Conference, Pence and Chancellor Angela Merkel laid out competing visions for how the West should address world crises.