After a weekend of total astonishment, European leaders give their first official response to the news National Security Strategy of the United States of Donald Trump, which maintains that Europe runs the risk of “the annihilation of its civilization” due to “migratory policies”, “censorship of freedom of expression”, “repression of political opposition” or the very existence of the Union.
The Trump administration also announces its intention to “foster resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European countries“That is to say, supporting the radical right parties closest to their theses, as Vice-President JD Vance already did at the Munich conference at the beginning of the year with Alternative for Germany.
The person responsible for responding to this new attack from Trump was the President of the European Council, the Portuguese socialist. Antonio Costawith a message that is intended to be firm: the EU will not accept interference in its internal politics nor the domination of “technological oligarchs”.
“Vice President JD Vance’s speech in Munich and President Trump’s various messages on X (formerly Twitter) now officially constitute American doctrine. We must take note and act accordingly” Costa said in a speech in Paris.
“What does that mean? It means we need more than just new energy. We must focus on building a Europe who understands that the relations between allies and the alliances born after the Second World War have changed”, declares the President of the European Council.
For Costa, what is clear is that “the United States no longer believes on multilateralism, on the rules-based international order or on climate change. “We have differences in the way we see the world. It is true that this strategy continues to consider Europe as an ally. That is positive.”
“But if we are allies, we must behave as allies. And allies do not threaten to interfere in the democratic life or in the internal political decisions of these allies. They respect each other. Mutual sovereignty is respected“, he insisted.
“It is obvious that Europeans do not share the same vision as Americans on various issues. This is natural. What we cannot accept is the threat of interference in European political life. The United States cannot replace European citizens when it comes to deciding which parties are right or wrong.” warns the President of the European Council.
Costa also responded to criticism from the Trump government regarding the minimum fine of 120 million euros that Brussels imposed last Friday on the X platform for deceptive practices. A sanction which, according to Washington, constitutes an attack on freedom of expression and American businesses.
The President of the European Council responds that the United States of Donald Trump “nor can they replace Europe in its vision of freedom of expression. » “And on this point we must be clear. Our history has taught us that there is no freedom of expression without freedom of information. And freedom of information only exists where pluralism is respected,” he stressed.
“There will be no freedom of expression if citizens’ freedom of information sacrifices himself to defend American tech oligarchs“, affirms the senior community official.
His recipe for dealing with both adversaries and unreliable allies is to “strengthen Europe.” “Sometimes we doubt the power of Europe. But what I see is that many people try to weaken it, and I ask myself: if Europe is not strong, why are so many people trying to undermine it? Because the truth is that we are strong,” Costa concluded.
Trump, enemy of Europe
With this energetic response, the President of the European Council distances himself from the head of community diplomacy, the Estonian. Kaja Kallaswho opted on Saturday, as soon as Trump’s new national security strategy was known, for a more conciliatory tone.
“Europe has underestimated its own power, especially vis-à-vis Russia. We should have more confidence in ourselves. The United States remains our greatest ally. And it is in their interest that we work together,” Kallas said.
Other European politicians with less public visibility – and therefore more room to speak publicly – have been far less diplomatic than Costa or Kallas. The most notable case is that of Valerie Hayerleader of the liberal Renew group in the European Parliament and close ally of the French president, Emmanuel Macron.
“Transatlantic relations remain crucial, but only with those who respect the EU. This new strategy confirms that the Trump administration is an enemy of Europe. We need to stop behaving like his friends,” Hayer wrote on his X account.
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