The new US national security strategy, critical of Europe, has triggered a wave of furious and dismayed reactions across the Atlantic, with European officials stating that this document has made the Trump administration’s virulent attacks against European democracies official policy, reports WP.
President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine on terms favorable to Russia, along with the European Union’s announcement of a fine of approximately $140 million for platform X for violating the bloc’s digital rules, have fueled incendiary statements, bringing transatlantic relations to their lowest level since Trump’s return to the White House in January.
Elon Musk, the owner of X, calls for the abolition of the EU, and Trump’s supporters are revolting against the bloc of 27 nations. European officials present the regulations as a matter of sovereignty and say they are trying to stop the abuses committed by American tech giants.
Tensions erupted after the US strategy portrayed the EU more as a threat – not Russia or China – and made the claim that Europe risks “the erasure of civilization” due to immigrants and progressive social policies. The document reveals the depth of the rupture in the 80-year-old Western alliance, say European officials and analysts, being clear evidence that European nations should fight for greater military independence.
Reactions of European leaders
In a sarcastic response, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski wrote that gun deaths are “an interesting metric of erasure”, noting that there are almost seven times more per year in the United States than in the EU. Other commentators directed their anger towards American food products banned in Europe due to chemical additives.
Since the beginning of Trump’s term, the president’s inner circle has criticized Europe.
Vice President JD Vance launched the first tirade in February, in a speech at the Munich Security Conference, where he accused European governments of censoring political opponents, especially the far right, by restricting hate speech and argued that they have caused “horrors” by accepting too many immigrants. Later, disputes over tariffs and regulations arose.
Read the full article HERE