EU leader warns of US interference in Europe’s affairs as Russia praises Trump’s security vision

European Council President Warns US Against Interfering in Europe’s Domestic Politics

European Council President António Costa issued a stark warning to the United States on Monday against meddling in Europe’s internal affairs, emphasizing that “only European citizens can decide which parties should govern them.”

The rebuke came in response to the Trump administration’s newly released national security strategy, published Friday, which portrays European allies as weak while offering tacit support to far-right political parties across the continent.

“What we can’t accept is the threat of interference in European political life. The United States cannot replace European citizens in choosing what the good or the bad parties are,” Costa said during an address at the Jacques Delors Institute in Paris.

While acknowledging it was “good” that the strategy depicts European countries as allies, Costa emphasized that “allies don’t threaten to interfere in the domestic political choices of their allies.”

The document has already drawn praise from Russia, formalizing months of Trump administration criticism toward EU policies and perceived restrictions on free speech. The strategy claims European allies face the “prospect of civilizational erasure,” raising questions about their reliability as long-term American partners.

Costa, who chairs summits of the EU’s 27 national leaders, defended European approaches to free expression, noting that “history has taught us that you can’t have freedom of speech without freedom of information.” The former Portuguese prime minister added that “there will never be free speech if the freedom of information of citizens is sacrificed for the aims of the tech oligarchs in the United States.”

In Berlin, German government spokesperson Sebastian Hille reinforced Europe’s stance, stating that while “Europe and the U.S. are historically, economically and culturally linked, and remain close partners,” Germany rejects “the partly critical tones against the EU.” Hille described the accusations regarding political freedoms as “more ideology than strategy.”

Experts warn the strategy document could embolden nationalist movements across Europe. Fabian Zuleeg, chief executive at the European Policy Centre think tank, cautioned that such parties “will intensify efforts to hollow out the EU from within,” adding that “Trump’s America is not an ally, but an adversary to Europe’s freedoms and fundamental values.”

The security strategy, the administration’s first since President Trump returned to office in January, represents a significant departure from the Biden administration’s approach, which had prioritized reinvigorating Washington’s traditional alliances. It comes as the U.S. seeks to end Russia’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine, which the document describes as in Washington’s “vital interests.”

The strategy signals a desire to improve U.S.-Russia relations after years of Moscow being treated as a global pariah. It states that ending the Ukraine war is a core U.S. interest to “reestablish strategic stability with Russia.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has welcomed the document, saying it “absolutely corresponds to our vision.” This alignment has raised concerns in European capitals, as Russia has consistently worked to drive wedges between NATO allies throughout the conflict.

Costa highlighted this concern, noting, “If we read closely the part about Ukraine, we can understand why Moscow shares this vision. The objective in this strategy is not a fair and durable peace. It’s only about the end of hostilities and the stability of relations with Russia.”

While acknowledging that “everyone wants stable relations with Russia,” Costa emphasized that “we can’t have stable relations with Russia when Russia remains a threat to our security.” Top EU officials and intelligence officers have warned that Russia could potentially launch attacks elsewhere in Europe within three to five years should it defeat Ukraine.

The German government spokesperson also noted a key discrepancy in threat assessment, stating, “The strategy doesn’t classify Russia as a threat; we don’t share this assessment. We are sticking with NATO’s joint analysis.” During a summit in June, Trump and NATO counterparts had acknowledged “the long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security.”

Despite these tensions, European officials continue to stress the importance of transatlantic cooperation in addressing shared security challenges in an increasingly complex global environment.