(Bloomberg) -- U.S. Vice President Mike Pence addresses the Munich Security Conference alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Chinese Politburo member Yang Jiechi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Key Points:

  • Pence urges NATO countries to stop buying arms from adversaries
  • Pence demands EU withdraw from Iran deal
  • EU should recognize Guaido as Venezuelan leader, Pence says

Pence Says EU Should Recognize Guaido in Venezuela (12:02 p.m.)

Pence tells a story of visiting Venezuelan refugees in Brazil last year who were struggling to feed their children and said another 2 million people will leave this year unless the situation improves.

"Nicolas Maduro is a dictator with no legitimate claim to power, and Nicolas Maduro must go," he said.

Pence Says Iran Is Advocating Another Holocaust (11:52 a.m.)

Pence tied his demand for European nations to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal to his visit to Auschwitz on Friday.

"One lesson of that dark chapter of human history is that when authoritarian regimes breathe out vile anti-Semitic hatred and threats of violence, we must take them at their word," he said. "The time has come for our European partners to stop undermining U.S. sanctions against this murderous revolutionary regime."

He said that by withdrawing from the accord will help bring security and freedom to the Iranian people.

Pence Says NATO Shouldn’t Buy Arms From East (11:45 a.m.)

Pence repeats his call for NATO members to boost defense spending -- and urges them to channel arms purchases to western allies.

"We have also made it clear that we will not stand idly by while NATO allies purchase weapons from our adversaries," Pence said. "We cannot ensure the defense of the West if our allies grow dependent on the East."

Earlier:

Merkel Pushes Back on U.S. Claims That German Cars Are a ThreatPence Gets Silent Treatment From U.S. Allies Skeptical of TrumpIMF Is Said to Prepare for Maduro’s Exit as Cash Shortage Bites

To contact the reporters on this story: Glen Carey in Washington at gcarey8@bloomberg.net;Patrick Donahue in Munich at pdonahue1@bloomberg.net;Andrea Dudik in Prague at adudik@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Ben Sills at bsills@bloomberg.net

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