The mainstream media quickly amplified harsh condemnations by European leaders and elites regarding President Trump’s new national security strategy, despite the Europe section being titled “Promoting European Greatness” and emphasizing America’s sentimental attachment to Europe.
Former French ambassador to the U.S. Gérard Araud described the strategy as “largely confirming” perceptions that Trump is an “enemy of Europe,” adding that the section on Europe “reads like a far-right pamphlet.”
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul rejected the strategy, stating Germany will not accept guidance on democracy and freedom from the Trump administration.
Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt characterized the strategy as “language one otherwise only finds coming out of some bizarre minds in the Kremlin.”
However, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas broke with European elites when she noted that while there is criticism, “some of it is also true.” She added, “Europe has been underestimating its own power. Towards Russia, for example, we should be more self-confident.”
The intense criticism from European elites stemmed from the strategy’s claims that Europe is in decline due to economic downturn and “civilization erasure” caused by unvetted migration.
According to the strategy, ill-advised EU policies are undermining sovereignty, political liberty, reducing birthrates, and eroding national identities and self-confidence. As a result, Europe may become unrecognizable within 20 years or less and no longer have economies or militaries capable of remaining reliable U.S. allies or NATO members.
The strategy urges Europe to reverse this decline and states America will assist in correcting the trajectory. It identifies quickly ending the war in Ukraine as a core U.S. interest to stabilize European economies, prevent war escalation, and enable post-war reconstruction for Ukraine’s survival.
Most importantly, the strategy calls for reestablishing strategic stability with Russia and ending NATO as a perpetually expanding alliance.
The strategy also notes that Europe’s response to the war in Ukraine has been confused and inconsistent, including unrealistic expectations and resistance by European governments to peace efforts. Additionally, it points out hypocrisy in Europe’s isolation of Russia, such as German companies building plants in China to use Russian natural gas they cannot obtain domestically.
The National Security Strategy calls for a strong, confident Europe that takes primary responsibility for its own defense. It advocates free trade, ending hostile trade practices, and opening European markets to U.S. goods and services while ensuring fair treatment of American workers and businesses.
The strategy demonstrates that President Trump and his administration care about Europe’s future, despite claims by European elites that it proves Trump views Europe as an “enemy.”
“America is, understandably, sentimentally attached to the European continent — and, of course, to Britain and Ireland,” the strategy states. “The character of these countries is also strategically important because we count upon creative, capable, confident, democratic allies to establish conditions of stability and security. We want to work with aligned countries that want to restore their former greatness.”
Ultimately, President Trump’s new National Security Strategy serves as a searing indictment of the failed policies of the European liberal elite that have contributed to Europe’s decline.
This is why EU foreign policy chief Kallas acknowledged that she believes some criticism in the strategy holds truth — specifically, that Europe’s lack of self-confidence has undermined its approach to Russia.
