Paris, France – In a sharply worded address that underscored deepening transatlantic fissures, European Council President António Costa on Monday urged the United States to cease meddling in Europe's internal affairs, framing such actions as antithetical to true alliance. Speaking at the Jacques Delors Institute's annual conference in the heart of Paris, Costa decried recent U.S. rhetoric as a veiled threat to democratic sovereignty, just days after Washington unveiled a provocative National Security Strategy (NSS) that lambasts the European Union as a stifler of freedoms and harbinger of cultural decline. The exchange highlights a growing ideological chasm, with Europe clinging to multilateralism and climate action while the Trump administration prioritizes "America First" isolationism, potentially reshaping NATO dynamics and global security norms.
"If we are allies, we must act as such—and allies do not threaten to interfere in each other’s domestic political life and democratic choices," Costa declared, directly referencing the NSS released in the early hours of December 5. The 33-page document, signed by President Donald Trump, marks a radical pivot from prior strategies, elevating economic nationalism and skepticism toward international institutions. It accuses Europe of succumbing to "over-regulation," "censorship of free speech and suppression of political opposition," plummeting birthrates, and "civilizational erasure" driven by immigration policies that erode national identities. The strategy warns that without course correction, the continent risks becoming "unrecognizable in 20 years or less," and calls for Washington to "cultivate resistance" to these trends by bolstering "patriotic European parties"—a clear nod to far-right movements like Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Hungary's Fidesz.
Costa, a former Portuguese prime minister who assumed the European Council presidency in late 2024, painted a stark contrast in worldviews. "We remain defenders of multilateralism. We believe in an international order based on rules, we believe in science, we believe in scientific freedom, and we don’t ignore global challenges such as climate change," he emphasized, implicitly countering U.S. dismissals of climate science as a "lie" and multilateral bodies like the UN as obsolete. He warned that the U.S. shift away from these principles—evident in Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement redux and skepticism toward NATO—endangers not just Europe but the global balance. "What we cannot accept is this threat of interference in Europe’s political life. The United States cannot replace European citizens in deciding which parties are good and which are bad. The United States cannot substitute itself for Europe when it comes to our view of freedom of expression," Costa added, his tone a blend of diplomatic restraint and firm rebuke.
The Portuguese leader's remarks resonated deeply amid ongoing debates over Ukraine, where the NSS questions the war's viability and criticizes European leaders for harboring "unrealistic expectations" from "unstable minority governments." Costa reaffirmed Europe's unwavering support: "We cannot accept that Ukraine’s sovereignty, its right to self-determination, and its restored borders be called into question." He extended the stakes beyond Europe, noting, "If that can happen there, imagine what could happen here in Africa. So this is not just a European issue—and that is what Europe must understand: the world is not only the United States and China."
The backdrop to Costa's intervention is a cascade of U.S. provocations that have strained the postwar alliance. Vice President JD Vance's February speech at the Munich Security Conference set the tone, branding Europe's "principal danger" as internal erosion—specifically, the suppression of populist voices and free speech—rather than external threats from Russia or China. Vance lambasted "firewalls" against far-right parties like the AfD and met privately with AfD co-leader Alice Weidel amid Germany's February elections, where the party surged to second place on an anti-immigration platform. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired back, invoking Vance's recent Dachau visit to underscore Germany's duty to combat neo-Nazi echoes in the AfD, dismissing the speech as "unacceptable." Swedish ex-PM Carl Bildt decried it as "blatant interference" favoring the far right, while Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre prioritized Ukraine over Vance's "presumed" free speech crisis.
The NSS amplifies these themes, codifying Trump's affinity for illiberal leaders like Hungary's Viktor Orbán, a vocal critic of EU migration pacts and LGBTQ+ rights, whom the document implicitly endorses as a bulwark against "erasure." It spares Russia sharp rebuke, opting for "strategic stability" and positioning the U.S. as a mediator in potential Ukraine-Russia pacts, a stance that alarms Brussels amid stalled Geneva talks. Economically, the strategy demands reciprocity with China but eyes Europe's regulatory "suffocation" as a trade barrier, potentially fueling tariffs on EU exports.
Reactions across Europe have been swift and unified. French President Emmanuel Macron echoed Costa: "Allies respect sovereignty—no exceptions." Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called the NSS "a manual for division," vowing to defend EU values at the upcoming December European Council. Italy's Giorgia Meloni, a right-wing ally of Trump, offered tepid support for Vance's free speech points but distanced herself from interference claims. In Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned of "significant political attacks" on allies, urging a "united front" to safeguard multilateralism.
Yet, Costa struck an optimistic chord on Europe's agency. He stressed building "commercial power" to assert global heft, noting globalization's spawn of new powers like India and Brazil demands EU adaptability. "For our part, we must build the capacity to ensure security—the security of our citizens, the security of our borders, and security against threats from outside. And what is new is that these threats now come from several directions," he said, referencing a €100 billion defense fund greenlit in October and white papers on joint procurement. Enlargement remains a cornerstone: Costa touted 2025 progress for Ukraine, Moldova, and Western Balkans as "geopolitical investments" for peace, aiming for summits in 2026.
As the conference concluded under gray Parisian skies, analysts pondered the ripple effects. The NSS's release—timed post-Thanksgiving for minimal scrutiny—signals a U.S. pivot toward the Western Hemisphere, with pledges for military reallocations to counter Venezuelan and Chinese influence, potentially diluting European aid. Transatlantic trade, already tense over steel tariffs, faces fresh headwinds. Yet, in Costa's vision, crisis breeds opportunity: a Europe that champions UN reforms and Palestinian aid amid Middle East volatility.
The spat arrives as the EU navigates internal turbulence—German elections' AfD gains, French pension unrest, and UK's post-Brexit thaw. Costa's doctrine, blending rebuke with resolve, may galvanize a bloc weary of U.S. unilateralism. "Strength through crisis," he quipped earlier this year, invoking Rome Treaty's spirit. Whether this fortifies or fractures the alliance hinges on December's summits, where leaders will calibrate responses to Trump's blueprint. For now, Costa's Paris plea echoes: alliances thrive on respect, not remonstration. In a multipolar world, Europe's choices—democratic, defiant—may redefine the West.
