Reports suggest that Donald Trump’s administration is exploring a controversial plan to pull Austria, Hungary, Italy, and Poland away from the European Union. An unpublished version of the White House’s National Security Strategy, highlighted by Defense One, reportedly encourages the U.S. to support political parties, cultural figures, and movements in these countries that prioritize sovereignty, traditional European values, and a pro-American stance.
Although the official published version of the strategy emphasizes strengthening alliances, the leaked draft has alarmed European officials. Austrian media outlet Die Presse warned that Trump might be attempting to divide the EU with Austria’s cooperation.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly downplayed the report, claiming that “versions” of the strategy are being circulated by people “far from the president” without understanding the content.
Trump has repeatedly criticized Europe’s immigration policies, suggesting that some EU member states may not remain viable without stricter border control. The leaked document reportedly warns of “civilisational erasure” in Europe over the next 20 years and calls for support of patriotic parties to counter this trend.
The European response has been sharp. European Council President António Costa emphasized that “only European citizens can decide which parties govern them” and warned against U.S. interference in domestic politics. Fabian Zuleeg, CEO of the European Policy Centre, added that the strategy could embolden nationalist parties and undermine the EU, describing Trump’s approach as “adversarial to Europe’s freedoms and fundamental values.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also criticized the move, calling for Europe to strengthen its independence from the U.S., particularly in security matters, and rejected the notion that European democracy needs external “rescuing.”
This strategy marks a clear departure from the cooperative approach of former President Joe Biden, focusing on closer ties with Russia and framing the end of the Ukraine war as a priority for “strategic stability.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov praised the strategy as aligning with Russia’s interests, amid ongoing attempts by Moscow to drive wedges between NATO allies.
The leaked document highlights the growing tension between Trump’s foreign policy ambitions and Europe’s commitment to democratic values and alliance unity, raising questions about the future of U.S.-EU relations under the Trump administration.
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