EU Chief Demands U.S. Cease Meddling in Bloc’s Internal Affairs

(MENAFN) European Council President Antonio Costa issued a sharp warning to Washington on Monday, demanding the United States cease threatening to meddle in the bloc's internal affairs and electoral processes.

"If we are allies, we must act as such—and allies do not threaten to interfere in each other's domestic political life and democratic choices," Costa declared during the Jacques Delors Institute's annual conference in Paris, directly addressing Washington's recently unveiled National Security Strategy.

Costa emphasized a widening transatlantic divide, asserting that Europe and the US "no longer share" identical perspectives on global governance.

"We remain defenders of multilateralism. We believe in an international order based on rules, we believe in science, we believe in scientific freedom, and we don't ignore global challenges such as climate change," he underscored.

The European Council leader accused the US of abandoning multilateralism and the rules-based international framework while dismissing climate change as a "lie."

"What we cannot accept is this threat of interference in Europe's political life. The United States cannot replace European citizens in deciding which parties are good and which are bad. The United States cannot substitute itself for Europe when it comes to our view of freedom of expression," he warned.

Costa also reiterated: "We cannot accept that Ukraine's sovereignty, its right to self-determination, and its restored borders be called into question."

"If that can happen there, imagine what could happen here in Africa. So this is not just a European issue—and that is what Europe must understand: the world is not only the United States and China," he added.

The bloc must evolve into a "commercial power" to secure global influence and strengthen its international standing, Costa stressed.

"For our part, we must indeed build the capacity to ensure security—the security of our citizens, the security of our borders, and security against the threats that come from outside. And what is new is that these threats now come from several directions," he added.

Costa further noted that globalization has generated "quite a number of new powers on a global scale" that the bloc must acknowledge.

His rebuke follows Washington's Friday release of a National Security Strategy that represents a dramatic pivot from prior US policy, formalizing President Donald Trump's sustained attacks on Europe.

The strategy document alleges the continent suffers from excessive regulation, diminishing "self-confidence," and "civilizational erasure" driven by immigration patterns.

It asserts that European institutions "undermine political liberty and sovereignty" and forecasts the continent will become "unrecognizable in 20 years or less" if present trajectories persist.

The text condemns alleged censorship, political opposition suppression, plummeting birth rates, and disintegrating national identities. It suggests European governments cannot convert public peace sentiment into concrete policy due to internal political barriers.

The strategy follows aggressive statements from senior US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, who criticized free speech restrictions across Europe during a Munich address while expressing solidarity with far-right factions like Germany's AfD.

Though the document avoids naming specific political movements, it mirrors Trump's consistent backing of figures including Hungary's Viktor Orban, recognized for his hardline immigration stance and opposition to LGBTQ rights.

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