WASHINGTON – The recent “national security strategy” from the Trump administration takes aim at European nations, criticizing them for environmental policies and restrictions on free speech while expressing U.S. backing for movements that could reshape the continent.
“We want Europe to stay true to itself, to reestablish a sense of civil confidence and leave behind its counterproductive regulatory approach,” the online document stated on Friday.
It further declared, “We are against restrictions on essential freedoms imposed by the elite in Europe, the Anglosphere, and similar regions, particularly concerning our allies.”
Interestingly, the report stresses America’s competitors and warns that if Europe continues on its current course, it could jeopardize the NATO alliance.
The document also noted, “U.S. officials often view Europe’s issues through the lens of insufficient military funding and stagnant economies. While that holds some validity, the core challenges facing Europe go much deeper.”
It pointed out that Europe is gradually losing its global GDP share, a decline from 25% in 1990 to about 14% today. This shift is partly attributed to regulations that hinder innovation and hard work. However, the document suggests that the looming, more serious threat is one of cultural and civilizational decline.
Broader challenges identified include the influence of the European Union and similar institutions that might erode political freedom and sovereignty. Other stressors mentioned were migration policies leading to conflict, restrictions on free speech, repression of political dissent, high birth rates, and a dwindling sense of national identity and self-assuredness.
The report also proposed a plan to “encourage resistance to the current direction of Europe from within its borders.”
