European Council President António Costa Condemns US Political Interference Threats

António Costa, President of the European Council, has strongly denounced the United States' recent national security strategy under the Trump administration, which he views as a direct attempt to interfere in European political affairs. The US document labels far-right and Eurosceptic parties as "patriotic forces" to be supported, warning of a "civilization erasure" due to Europe’s internal policies, particularly targeting migration and birth rates. In a speech at the Jacques Delors Institute in Paris, Costa emphasized that Europe "cannot accept interference in its political life," asserting that "allies do not threaten to interfere in the political lives or democratic choices of other allies." He pointedly criticized the US for trying to dictate which European parties are acceptable and reaffirmed Europe's right to political sovereignty and autonomy.

Costa called for a stronger, more self-reliant Europe that addresses its citizens' concerns such as affordable housing and leverages its market of 450 million to forge new trade partnerships, including with Mercosur. He further highlighted the urgency for Europe to reduce its dependence on the US for security, advocating for Europe to take the lead in NATO by 2027. Addressing broader tensions, Costa criticized the US stance on climate change and freedom of expression, especially amid anti-EU rhetoric from figures like Elon Musk, owner of the X social network recently fined €120 million by the EU for regulatory violations. This legal action intensified the fraught US-EU relations, with Musk's reaction including calls to dissolve the EU.

Despite these stark differences, Costa acknowledged the importance of the transatlantic alliance and the US as a key economic partner. His remarks echo sentiments from other European figures like Kaja Kallas, underscoring the need for Europe to assert its sovereignty and be strong internally to wield influence globally.