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Former EU commissioner calls Trump-led US Europe's enemy
A former top European Union official has sharply criticized the United States under President Donald Trump, labeling it an enemy of Europe rather than an ally. Joaquin Almunia, who served as vice president of the European Commission and competition commissioner, made the bold statement during an interview on Spanish radio station Cadena Ser. He lamented that Europe once counted on Washington as a steadfast partner, but now faces open hostility from the Trump administration.
Almunia's remarks came about a month after the release of the Trump administration's National Security Strategy. That document warns of a potential "civilizational erasure" in Europe within two decades, driven by immigration and excessive EU regulations. It pledges support for "patriotic" far-right parties across the continent and calls for helping Europe "correct its current trajectory" by fostering resistance within its nations.
The former commissioner expressed deep concern over the muted response from EU leaders to this provocative strategy, published on December 5. While he praised European Council President Antonio Costa for noting that true allies do not threaten each other's democratic choices, Almunia highlighted the troubling silence from others, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. She only addressed the issue publicly on December 11, cautioning Trump against meddling in Europe's democracy. "I'm very worried about the silence of some EU leaders," Almunia said. "It seems only Antonio Costa grasped what Washington's security strategy truly means."
The strategy has drawn praise from Russian officials, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov observing that it aligns with Moscow's worldview. Almunia warned that Trump views the EU as his chief adversary while treating Russian President Vladimir Poutine as a friend—a dynamic that alarms him profoundly. Trump has openly backed French far-right leader Marine Le Pen following her corruption conviction and derided European leaders as weak and decadent. Almunia cautioned against any alliances between mainstream European parties and far-right groups, arguing they betray core European values and human rights protections.
