The United States should not "threaten to interfere in the democratic life" of its European allies, European Council President Antonio Costa said yesterday.
Košta's statements are among the first reactions from senior EU officials following the release of the new United States National Security Strategy, a document in which the White House outlines its approach to the geopolitical challenges facing the United States and the world. The new national security strategy of the Donald Trump administration, released on Friday, focuses on European allies who are portrayed as weak, while providing support to far-right political parties.
The document, which Russia praised, is actually a written version of the US administration's months-long criticism of European Union policies and alleged restrictions on free speech, criticism that began in February, when US Vice President J.D. Vance delivered a scathing lecture to European allies in Germany.
Speaking yesterday at the Jacques Delors conference in Paris, Košta said that, although Europe and the US remain partners, the foundations of that partnership rest on mutual respect, especially when it comes to domestic policy issues.
"Of course, this (American) strategy still mentions Europe as an ally. That's good," Košta said, as quoted by Politiko. "But if we are allies, then we have to behave like allies. And allies do not threaten to interfere in the democratic life or internal political elections of their partners. They respect them. They respect each other's sovereignty."
According to Košta, J.D. Vance's harsh comments and President Donald Trump's social media posts are no longer isolated outbursts, but now represent "the doctrine of the United States."
“We need to take this into account and act accordingly,” he said. “That means we need not only new energy, but also a focus on building a Europe that must understand that the relationships between allies and the alliances that emerged after World War II have changed.”
At the heart of Košta's message was Europe's decision to reject external political pressures. "The United States cannot decide for European citizens who are the right and wrong political actors," he said, alluding to a part of the US strategy that mentions support for "patriotic European parties."
Košta also pointed out that the new American approach reflects a broader shift away from multilateralism, a weaker commitment to a rules-based international order, and the abandonment of climate policy as a strategic priority. “There are differences in our worldviews,” he warned.
Košta also strongly defended the EU's regulatory autonomy, including the heavy fine that Platform X received last week under the Digital Services Act. He dismissed criticism coming from Washington and American tech leaders, saying that Europe's moves are rooted in its democratic model.
“The United States cannot define what freedom of speech looks like for Europe,” he said. “Our history has taught us that there is no freedom of speech without freedom of information. And freedom of information only exists where there is respect for pluralism.”
He added: “There will be no freedom of speech if citizens’ freedom of information is sacrificed to protect tech oligarchs from the United States.”
For Europeans, the new US security strategy essentially seeks to increase pressure on Europe at a time when most European leaders continue to support Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, despite US diplomatic maneuvers. Meanwhile, the Trump administration, which is trying to align itself with Russian positions, wants to persuade Kiev to reach a compromise as soon as possible. However, a number of sensitive issues remain unresolved, especially those related to territorial disputes and security guarantees.
Immediately after the US strategy was announced, influential figures from the Trump administration, or close to it, further reinforced it with their statements throughout the weekend, further raising transatlantic tensions.
Christopher Landau, the US deputy secretary of state, condemned what he called the “inconsistency” of European capitals, most of which are members of NATO and the EU. “When these countries wear their NATO hats, they insist that transatlantic cooperation is the cornerstone of our shared security,” he wrote on the X platform.
Elon Musk, Trump's ally at the beginning of his second term, stated that "the EU should be abolished and sovereignty returned to individual states, so that governments can better represent their citizens."
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski responded fiercely to that comment: "Go to Mars. There is no censorship of Nazi salutes there."
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