Trump’s NSS 2025: US pushes for right-wing shift in European politics

The National Security Strategy (NSS) released by the Trump administration last Friday proposes policies regarding the EU and Europe as a whole that are unlikely to please Brussels.

According to the NSS, the share of the 27 member countries in global economic performance, calculated by purchasing power parity (PPP), has declined from 25% in 1990 to just 14% in 2025.

The EU’s relative economic decline is overshadowed, according to the NSS, by a “real and more threatening extinction,” namely the possibility of a “loss of civilization.” The Trump administration attributes this to a migration policy that is “transforming the continent and sowing seeds of division.”

This situation is linked to the “suppression of political opposition” and the “loss of national identities and self-confidence.”

The NSS argues that if these trends continue, the “Old Continent” will become “unrecognizable” within “20 years, or even sooner.”

Arguing that the possibility of the majority of the population in some NATO member states consisting of non-Europeans appears “highly plausible,” the American administration suggests it remains an “open question” whether they would maintain their “global standing” and, specifically, their “alliances with the US” in such a scenario.

On the other hand, arguing that this situation is contrary to US interests, the document underscores that Europe continues to be of vital importance to the US, particularly from strategic and cultural perspectives.

Pointing out that European technology and transatlantic trade are significant pillars of “American prosperity,” the NSS 2025 emphasizes that Europe’s assistance remains of immense importance to the US from a strategic standpoint as well.

Arguing that the US security strategy “cannot afford to write off Europe,” the NSS consequently identifies Washington’s goal as helping to “correct Europe’s current course.”

The US, wanting Europe to “remain European” and “regain confidence in its civilization,” explicitly declares the necessity of encouraging resistance within European countries against Europe’s current trajectory.

For this reason, the NSS suggests that the Trump administration encourage its political allies in Europe to re-strengthen the unique character of European nations.

Pointing to the “increasing influence of patriotic parties in Europe,” the new strategy states that the rise of these forces currently constitutes a “cause for great optimism.”

The new US National Security Strategy was welcomed by Trump-MAGA allies in Europe. For example, Petr Bystron, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Alternative for Germany (AfD), stated, “This is a direct appreciation of our work.”

Bystron noted that the AfD has always fought for “sovereignty, remigration, and peace,” stating that these are exactly the priorities Trump is currently implementing.

Different views are being heard from the parliamentary groups of the ruling parties in Berlin. For instance, Adis Ahmetovic, the foreign policy spokesperson for the SPD parliamentary group, called for a “united, self-confident, and stronger Europe” to oppose the demand for pursuing a “hard right-wing policy” in Germany as well.

CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter also warned that Europe must in no way become an “object of US power politics.”

However, Jürgen Hardt (CDU), the foreign policy spokesperson for the CDU/CSU faction, thinks differently. Hardt praised the fact that Germany and Europe continue to play a “central role as a partner” in the US President’s strategy, claiming, “Therefore, the strategy is not a farewell, but rather could be a starting point for increasing efforts for transatlantic cooperation.”

On the other hand, in a statement to DW, Hardt said, “The US President’s assessment of Europe is very one-sided; perhaps it stems from information received from wrong sources, such as far-right parties in Europe, or sometimes it sounds like [Russian President Vladimir] Putin talking about Europe.”

Expressing concerns regarding the US strategy, Hardt suggested that Trump “wants to be actively involved in the politics of European Union member states” and added, “We did not intervene in the US, and we expect the US not to intervene in German democracies.”

Hardt argued that in German or European politics, they “do not need Trojan horses of Russia or China, as is the case with the AfD, the National Rally in France, or far-right parties in the UK.”

Responding to the strategy document on Friday, CDU foreign policy expert Johann Wadephul stated that the US remains a vital ally on security, but that “issues related to freedom of expression or the organization of our free societies” do not fall into this category.

The German politician stated, “We think that in the future we can discuss these issues entirely on our own and will not need advice from the outside.”

The European Commission also strongly rejected the accusations directed at the EU by the US strategy.

According to the German news agency dpa, Commission chief spokesperson Paula Pinho rejected implications that the EU undermines political freedom and sovereignty, harms the continent with its migration policy, and obstructs freedom of expression. However, Pinho did not wish to comment further at this stage.

dpa reported the spokesperson as saying, “We have not yet had time to examine and evaluate this, so we are not in a position to make any comments.”