Trump Admin's "Civilisational Erasure" Warning for Europe Sparks Outcry
A new strategy document from the Trump administration has ignited a firestorm across Europe, warning the continent faces “civilisational erasure” and may no longer be a dependable U.S. ally. The National Security Strategy, published on the White House website, didn't hold back, labeling the European Union as “anti-democratic” and asserting that Washington's goal should be to “help Europe correct its current trajectory.”
The controversial document, released overnight Thursday-to-Friday, accused European governments of “the subversion of democratic processes,” specifically citing their alleged failure to respond to public demand to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. It provocatively suggested that within decades, some NATO members could become majority non-European, raising questions about their future global alignment and commitment to the transatlantic alliance.
European Officials React with Shock and Indignation
While current European leaders largely remained silent, wary of antagonizing President Donald Trump, former officials reacted with shock and indignation. Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt took to X, describing the strategy's language as reminiscent of “some bizarre minds of the Kremlin” and positioned “to the right of the extreme right in Europe.” He expressed bewilderment that the strategy identified Europe as the sole region facing a threat to democracy.
Krisjanis Karins, former Latvian Prime Minister, told Reuters that Russia would be the “happiest country reading this.” He lamented that Moscow, which has long sought to undermine transatlantic bonds, now seems to find its greatest disruptor in the U.S. itself. A European diplomat, speaking anonymously, described the tone on Europe as “not promising” and even worse than a hostile speech by Vice President JD Vance in Munich earlier in the year.
Echoes of Far-Right Rhetoric and Russia's Interests
The strategy document's rhetoric notably mirrors talking points often espoused by Europe's far-right political parties, which have gained significant traction as opposition forces in nations like Germany and France. The document even appeared to endorse these groups, hailing the “growing influence of patriotic European parties” as a “cause for great optimism.” Nathalie Tocci, director of the Italian think tank Istituto Affari Internazionali, interpreted this as an indication that the Trump administration is actively working to destabilize Europe by backing nationalist factions, many of which are seen as supported by Russia.
America First: A Roadmap for U.S. Foreign Policy
The National Security Strategy is a crucial periodic publication from the U.S. executive branch, outlining the President's foreign policy vision. In his foreword, President Trump described the document as a “roadmap to ensure that America remains the greatest and most successful nation in human history.”
Beyond the “civilisational erasure” warning, the strategy also accused the EU of undermining political liberty and sovereignty, suppressing free speech, and stifling political opposition. Despite their growing discomfort with Washington's stance, European politicians and officials find themselves in a challenging position, relying heavily on U.S. military support as they scramble to bolster their own defenses against a perceived Russian threat.
Crucially, the document emphasized that it is in the U.S.'s strategic interest to negotiate a swift resolution in Ukraine and re-establish “strategic stability” with Russia. This perspective aligns with a stalled U.S. peace initiative that involved Washington presenting a peace plan reportedly endorsing Russia's primary demands in the nearly four-year-old conflict. The document reiterated that “a large European majority wants peace, yet that desire is not translated into policy, in large measure because of those (European) governments' subversion of democratic processes.”
