The Trump administration has accused Europe of being an 'incubator' for terrorism fueled by mass migration that is allowing 'alien cultures' to grow. A new counterterrorism strategy unveiled on Wednesday focuses on rooting out 'violent left-wing extremists' including 'radically pro-transgender' groups, as Trump's conservative administration steps up its political attacks on opponents.
The strategy further places drug cartels in the Americas at the center of counterterrorism efforts. But some of its strongest language is reserved for Europe, home to numerous US allies who will be alarmed to see their continent in the Trump administration's crosshairs once again.
'It is clear to all that well-organized hostile groups exploit open borders and related globalist ideals. The more these alien cultures grow, and the longer current European policies persist, the more terrorism is guaranteed,' the strategy said. 'As the birthplace of Western culture and values, Europe must act now and halt its willful decline,' said the strategy, led by counterterrorism coordinator Sebastian Gorka.
The fresh criticism of Europe comes just months after Trump's new national security strategy said the continent faced 'civilizational erasure' due to immigration. The US president brutally criticised long-established allies in December, calling for 'cultivating resistance' within Europe and said the US wanted to restore 'Western identity'.
The administration also backed claims that the continent faces 'civilisational erasure' due to migration. 'It is more than plausible that within a few decades at the latest, certain NATO members will become majority non-European,' it said. The administration further denounced European 'censorship of free speech and suppression of political opposition,' an allusion to efforts to constrain hard-right voices including those who have railed against migrants.
Now, left-wing groups are a major preoccupation for the Republican president's administration, with the strategy targeting what it calls 'violent Left-Wing Extremists, including Anarchists and Anti-Fascists.' It says US counterterrorism efforts will 'prioritize the rapid identification and neutralization of violent secular political groups whose ideology is anti-American, radically pro-transgender, and anarchist.' It specifically cited the alleged killer of Trump ally and conservative influencer Charlie Kirk 'by a radical who espoused extreme transgender ideologies.'
The US has been harsh on migration in Europe in recent months, with top administration figures such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticising mass migration and so-called 'open borders' policies. Meanwhile Vice President JD Vance has warned Europe risks 'civilizational suicide' if it fails to regain control of its borders. Vance has cited high-profile crimes committed by migrants to argue that European leaders have ignored public concerns, with the issue gaining urgency after recent attacks across the continent.
But Trump's latest attack on Europe has come as part of a continued pattern of hostility, fueled by his frustration that NATO allies refused to support his actions against Iran. On Friday, the US President announced he would pull 5,000 troops from Germany as a rift over the Iran war widens between the President and Europe. Trump had threatened a drawdown in forces earlier last week after sparring with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said last Monday the Iranians were humiliating the US in talks to end the two-month-old war and that he did not see what exit strategy Washington was pursuing.
The President ripped into Merz earlier Friday, saying 'he's doing a terrible job and he's got a big problem with Ukraine, because they're in that mess.' The Pentagon said the withdrawal was expected to be completed over the next six to 12 months. Germany is home to some 35,000 active-duty U.S. military personnel, more than anywhere else in Europe. The official said the drawdown would bring US troop levels in Europe back to roughly pre-2022 levels, before Russia's invasion of Ukraine triggered a buildup by then-President Joe Biden.
Trump also threatened to include troops based in Italy and Spain. 'I mean, they haven't exactly been on board,' Trump said on Thursday when asked about the possibility of cutting troop levels in the two countries. 'Yeah, [I] probably will,' he continued. 'Why shouldn't I? Italy has not been of any help. Spain has been horrible. Absolutely.' There are more than 12,600 active duty US military personnel in Italy and more than 3,800 in Spain. Removing those troops will now be difficult for the Department of Defense to execute amid the war in Iran. But Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told Politico the department 'plans for every scenario and we are fully prepared to execute the orders of the commander-in-chief at the time and place of his choosing.'
Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told Italian news agency ANSA on Thursday he didn't 'understand the reasons' for Trump's threat to remove troops. 'As it's clear to anyone, we haven't used the Strait of Hormuz. And we've even offered to carry out a mission to protect shipping - a gesture that was actually greatly appreciated by the US military,' he said, noting Italy is also providing assistance to Ukraine amid its war with Russia.
