Will Four Nations Break Rank With The EU? Inside The Deepening Trump-Europe Faultlines

Last Updated:December 12, 2025, 14:07 IST

A disputed US strategy document and Donald Trump’s blunt critique of Europe have accelerated debates over political drift within the European Union.

Trump and Zelenskyy with European Leaders | Image: AP

The uneasy transatlantic relationship between the United States and the European Union is once again under strain. In recent days, US President Donald Trump has launched a new offensive against European leaders, calling them “weak," branding key EU nations “decaying," and accusing them of letting the war in Ukraine drag on. His remarks accompanied the release of a new US National Security Strategy (NSS), which has sparked concern across Europe for its rhetoric and implications.

What intensified the backlash was not only the tone of the published NSS, but also reports of an unpublished longer version flagged by US outlet Defense One. That internal draft allegedly proposed a plan to “pull" four countries—Austria, Hungary, Italy and Poland—away from the EU and into closer alignment with the US.

While the White House has firmly denied the existence of such a document, stating, “no alternative, private, or classified version exists", the report has added to growing European unease over Washington’s evolving stance, especially as Trump continues to court nationalist governments sympathetic to his worldview.

What Did The Unpublished Document Allegedly Propose?

According to the report, the draft NSS advocated deepening ties with ideologically aligned governments, specifically those in Hungary, Poland, Austria, and Italy, by supporting parties and movements that promote “traditional European ways of life" while staying pro-American.

The draft also reportedly frames Europe as a continent facing “civilisational erasure", a narrative that has gained traction among Europe’s far-right leaders and in Russia. It criticises EU efforts to curb far-right parties, describing such actions as “political censorship," and calls for “cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory".

The phrasing suggests a deliberate attempt to drive a wedge within the EU. It aligns closely with Trump’s praise for leaders such as Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, known for defying Brussels on migration, rule of law, and media freedom. The document’s language reflects a wider strategy of splintering the EU from within, favouring regimes that echo Trump-era nationalism.

The White House has rejected these claims outright. Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly stated that Trump “put his signature on one NSS", and no other version exists.

What Has Trump Said About Europe In Recent Days?

In a Politico interview, Trump expanded his attack on the continent, saying, “I think they’re weak. I think they don’t know what to do." He described Europe as a group of “decaying" nations and praised Hungary and Poland as models for tough immigration control. Most of Europe, he suggested, had failed to preserve stability or strategic focus.

Trump also claimed that Europe was responsible for prolonging the Ukraine war by failing to act decisively. He accused European governments of letting Ukraine “fight until they drop," suggesting they were more interested in containment than resolution. “They talk but they don’t produce. And the war just keeps going on and on," he said.

In a particularly inflammatory claim, Trump alleged that Ukraine was blocking peace. He said Moscow was “fine" with a US peace plan that proposed major concessions from Kyiv, and accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of refusing to “play ball." European leaders fear such a plan could prioritise US interests at Ukraine’s expense, leaving Kyiv exposed to future aggression.

Trump also questioned Ukraine’s democratic credentials, noting the suspension of elections under martial law. “It gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore," he said. Elections have been suspended under martial law since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, in line with Ukraine’s constitutional provisions.

Zelenskyy responded by saying elections could be held within 60 to 90 days if security conditions improve, and that legislative proposals were being prepared to enable this.

The Politico interview capped a week of provocations in which Trump was also named the “most powerful person shaping European politics" in the outlet’s annual P28 list, underscoring the extent of his influence on the continent’s direction.

How Has Europe Responded To The NSS And Trump’s Comments?

EU leaders have responded with unusual directness. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that “nobody else is supposed to interfere" in European democracy, and said “the sovereignty of the voters must be protected." She linked the reported NSS goals to foreign attempts to influence internal EU politics.

She also defended the EU’s proposed Democracy Shield, aimed at combating foreign disinformation and election interference, and stressed that Europe must define its own values. “Let’s stand up for a unified Europe. This is our task… to look at ourselves and be proud of ourselves," she said at a public event in Brussels.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper rejected Trump’s characterisation of Europe as weak, citing strong defence investments and sustained aid to Ukraine. She said “two presidents are working for peace", referring to Zelenskyy and Trump, but only one, Putin, continues to escalate the conflict.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called parts of the NSS “unacceptable," particularly the notion that the US must “save democracy" in Europe. “We can handle that ourselves," he said, cautioning against any external attempts to dictate the continent’s political path.

Are These Countries Really Pulling Away From The EU?

Not formally. None of the four countries named—Austria, Hungary, Italy, and Poland—have initiated processes to exit the EU. However, their political trajectories suggest growing friction with Brussels.

Hungary and Poland, in particular, have long challenged EU norms. They’ve clashed with the European Commission over judicial independence, press freedom, and LGBTQ rights. Both have embraced nationalist rhetoric that resonates with Trump’s platform: defending sovereignty, resisting migration, and confronting what they describe as “liberal elites" in Western Europe.

Italy has witnessed a rise in far-right political momentum under governments sympathetic to nationalist causes, while Austria has frequently pivoted between pro-European and populist messaging.

The NSS controversy has fuelled fears that the US may be actively encouraging this drift. If these nations interpret Trump’s support as a green light to further defy Brussels, the balance of power within the EU could be reshaped.

Why Does This Matter For Europe’s Future?

The NSS document, which Russia publicly welcomed as “largely consistent" with its worldview, signals a break from the traditional Atlanticist consensus. The fact that it does not frame Russia as a direct US threat has added to European concerns, especially among NATO members who see Moscow as their primary security challenge.

EU leaders worry that Washington’s posture under Trump could embolden far-right movements within their own borders, undermine unity on Ukraine, and weaken transatlantic alignment at a critical moment. From digital regulation to energy security and defence integration, the EU has been attempting to assert strategic autonomy. But these efforts may be undermined if a US administration openly supports internal dissent.

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