The app for independent voices
USA/Russia alignment against democracy in Europe?
Following the US/Russia summit in Alaska in August 2025, Russia’s views as to who is topping the hierarchy of threat actors changed:
It is not the USA anymore but the European Union that seems to be considered the main threat. According to Anton Barbashin (chief editor of Riddle) the EU is seen as both dangerous and weak at the same time.
From Russia’s perspective there is, however, a positive trend: the “growing influence of ‘healthy’ political forces”. Moscow is prepared “to facilitate the rise of nationally-oriented politicians who oppose further increases in military spending, aid to Kyiv and sanctions, and who favor the return of Russian gas”. In other words, Russia will continue to support national populist (far-right) movements in Europe.
Comparing this with the National Security Strategy of the US administration unveiled a few days ago, there is a surprisingly large degree of alignment, in particular with regard to how both see the European Union. The NSS, among other things, describes Europe as weak and at risk of “civilizational erasure”.
US policies must, therefore, be “cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations”.
Similar to Russia, the US NSS supports far-right movements in Europe: the “growing influence of patriotic European parties … gives cause for great optimism”.
(See also theguardian.com/us-news…)
Democracy in Europe is, therefore, not only under pressure from the East but also from West with not only Russia but also the US backing far-right or national populist movements with an authoritarian agenda.
Interference with democracy in Europe (“FIMI”) may no longer be an issue limited to Russia and similar regimes ...