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Trump's national security strategy is the clearest sign yet of ideological alignment between MAGA and Europe's far-right parties. But experts say there could be more ― maybe even plans to split and weaken the EU.

A formal iteration of Trump's foreign policy vision has rattled many in Europe who see the latest US National Security Strategy as a blatant declaration of interference in their internal politics, and intended to boost the prospects of the European far right.

"It is an attempt to intervene in the domestic politics of Europe, to undermine democratic processes and boost far-right parties," said Guntram Wolff, senior fellow at Brussels-based Bruegel think tank.

Experts say the strategy is much more than an admission of overlapping views on some issues such as immigration, and rather alludes to a bigger game plan ― to divide the 27 member European Union (EU) along ideological lines and weaken the bloc to dominate it.

Zsuzsanna Vegh, associate researcher at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), said weakening the EU as a global actor serves this US administration's interests: "A divided Europe would also be weaker and easier to dominate on trade issues."

Zsuzsanna Vegh, associate researcher at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), said weakening the EU as a global actor serves this US administration's interests: "A divided Europe would also be weaker and easier to dominate on trade issues."

Trump warns European allies 'to be careful'

Trump's National Security Strategy seals alignment between MAGA and the European far right
Several far-right parties in Europe, such as Fidesz in Hungary, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), and National Rally in France are opposed to immigration and have voiced Euroskepticism, to varying degrees.

MAGA's worldview often coincides with the far right in Europe,  particularly onimmigrationfrom Islamic countries. Now, the US's national security document has warned of hat it considers "civilizational erasure" in Europe in the next two decades as a result of high immigration and lower birth rates.

The document also accuses the EU of censoring free speech and suppression of political opposition ― insinuating that the EU's digital services Act (DSA) is hindering freedom of speech of far-right supporters, and not, as the EU claims, protecting citizens from disinformation online.  

Last week as the EU fined social media platform X €120 million for lack of advertising transparency and breaching other obligations, US Vice President JD Vance lashed out at the EU, and accused it of "attacking American companies over garbage."

Shortly after, Europe's far-right parties came out in support of X and against the EU.

"When the Brusselian overlords cannot win the debate, they reach for the fines," Hungary's PM Viktor Orban and leader of the nationalist Fidesz group, wrote on X. "Europe needs free speech, not unelected bureaucrats deciding what we can read or say."
"The European Commission appreciates censorship & chat control of its citizens," German AfD leader Alice Weidel posted. "They want to silence critical voices by restricting freedom of speech."

What does Trump hope to achieve?

The national security document states that the US's broad Europe policy should prioritize "cultivating resistance to Europe's current trajectory within European nations."

Vegh of the ECFR said the document illustrates that the current US administration is identifying political partners within countries as opposed to dealing with the democratically elected government of a country as a whole.

It is "a departure from classic diplomatic relations, which seek to have good relations between countries, and instead prioritize party ties and party diplomacy," she added.

Vegh said the document launched the most scathing attack against the EU with a strategy "to support aligned political actors and influence European politics in a direction favorable for Trump's administration."

"In part the idea appears to be to challenge the liberal democratic principles that underpin and unite the EU," Vegh said. "The US administration is partnering with the European far right because they themselves challenge the EU from within."

Wolff contended that the US is undermining the EU to its own advantage and to the detriment of European security and economic well being.

"European businesses thrive on deeply integrated global value chains, made possible by a deeply integrated EU and its single market," Wolff said. "If you attack the EU and its core foundation, which is the single market, then you attack the interests of EU companies that operate in many countries."  

"On the security side it aligns with Russia. [Vladimir] Putin has already said he aligns with that strategy," he added. "Of course Putin's vision is to reestablish dominance over central European countries."

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban meets Donald Trump at Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Florida,

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been reaching out to Trump and presenting himself as the key European interlocutor. The two met at Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in July 2024Image: Viktor Orban via X via REUTERS

Can Trump boost the far right in Europe or will the alignment backfire?

So far it's unclear whether the Trump administration's vision will translate into more tangible US support, for example funding, for the European far right.

"Previously USAID provided grants to civil society organizations working on strengthening democracy around the world," Vegh said. "USAID is now gone, but the administration may establish new channels to provide support for organizations with ties to its ideological allies in Europe. But any such collaboration has not yet taken shape publicly."  

Wolff said a public display of strong ties with Trump may instead backfire for the European far right.

"As it becomes clearer to people that such a relationship is a glaring threat to European security and prosperity, it might foster a counter-reaction. [The] far right may be seen to be undermining Europe's core interests," he added.

Ian Lesser, a fellow and head of the German Marshall Fund of the US's Brussels office, told DW that even though in general the US National Security Strategy is supportive of the far right, European groups "will have to think carefully about how close they want to be to an administration unpopular in Europe."