The Trump administration's new counter-terrorism strategy released Wednesday contains sharp criticism of Europe, describing the continent as both a terrorism target and an incubator for terror threats fueled by migration and open borders.
The 16-page report, led by Trump ally Sebastian Gorka, uses unusually blunt language about longtime U.S. allies. "It is clear to all that well-organised hostile groups exploit open borders and related globalist ideals," the strategy states. "The more these alien cultures grow, and the longer current European policies persist, the more terrorism is guaranteed."
The document calls on Europe to "act now and halt its willful decline," framing the continent's demographic changes as an existential threat to Western culture. This marks an escalation of Trump's recent criticism, which in his new national security strategy labeled immigration as a driver of Europe's potential "civilizational erasure."
Despite the harsh rhetoric, the strategy acknowledges European nations as "preeminent and long-term counterterrorism partners" for the United States. Gorka indicated the administration would meet with allies later in the week to discuss strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation, while warning that the U.S. will judge partners by their commitment to the effort. "We will measure your seriousness as a partner and ally by how much you bring to the table," he said.
Beyond Europe, the strategy places significant emphasis on drug cartels in the Americas as a counter-terrorism priority. The Trump administration has pursued an aggressive campaign against alleged drug-trafficking vessels in Latin American waters since early September, resulting in at least 191 deaths from military strikes. The administration is pushing regional leaders to take their own military action against drug traffickers and transnational gangs it considers an "unacceptable threat" to hemispheric security.
The administration has also moved to reshape the Western Hemisphere more broadly, overseeing the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and increasing pressure on Cuba's communist government. Trump has also recently criticized European NATO allies for not supporting his stated goals regarding Iran.
A notable portion of the strategy targets what it labels "violent Left-Wing Extremists, including Anarchists and Anti-Fascists," marking domestic political opposition as a counter-terrorism concern. The document specifically pledges to "prioritize the rapid identification and neutralization of violent secular political groups whose ideology is anti-American, radically pro-transgender, and anarchist."
This inclusion reflects the Republican administration's broader campaign against gender diversity. Since returning to power, Trump has banned transgender women from competing in women's sports and signed an executive order declaring only two genders exist.
Author James Rodriguez: "The strategy reads as a blending of traditional counter-terrorism concerns with the culture war priorities that define this administration's worldview."
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