EU Leader Warns of U.S. Meddling While Putin Flatters Trump Over “Cision”

A top European Union (EU) official has warned the United States against interfering in Europe’s affairs, saying only European citizens can decide which parties should govern them, Lorne Cook reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Trump's new security strategy portrays European allies as weak while signaling tacit support for far-right political parties. (Photo: Frédéric Sierakowski - European Council) 

European Council President António Costa made the remarks in response to the Trump administration’s new national security strategy, which portrays European allies as weak while signaling tacit support for far-right political parties.

“What we can’t accept is the threat of interference in European political life. The United States cannot replace European citizens in choosing what the good or the bad parties are,” Costa said in Paris at the Jacques Delors Institute.

The strategy document — praised by Russia — formalizes months of Trump administration criticism of EU policy and perceived restrictions on free speech. Those critiques began with a February lecture to European allies in Germany by U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

Costa acknowledged that it is “good” the strategy refers to European countries as allies, but added: “Allies don’t threaten to interfere in the domestic political choices of their allies.”