French politician warns of threat to Europe from Trump's policies

French MEP and candidate in the 2027 presidential election Raphaël Glucksmann sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump, accusing him of pursuing policies that weaken Europe and strengthen Russia's position.

Glucksmann made the statement on Tuesday, October 13, at a competitiveness summit organized by Politico in Paris.

According to the French politician, the actions of the U.S. administration indicate either a failure to understand the consequences of its own policies or a deliberate effort to weaken European states.

“At the head of the United States is a man who is either a useful idiot or is deliberately seeking to destroy European power and freedom,” Glucksmann said.

The criticism was triggered by the Trump administration's decision to ease restrictions on the export of Russian diesel fuel. Glucksmann believes that such a step plays into Moscow's hands by allowing Russia to generate additional revenue amid the ongoing war against Ukraine.

The French politician stressed that Russian aggression poses a threat not only to Ukraine but also to the security of the entire European continent.

“This war is directed directly against us Europeans, and we have been left alone,” the MEP said, urging European governments to reconsider the degree of their dependence on Washington.

According to Glucksmann, for decades European countries effectively transferred responsibility for their own security to the United States. The current policy of the White House, in his assessment, has demonstrated the risks of such an approach.

In this regard, the politician advocated the creation of a more autonomous European defense system that would allow EU countries to respond to military threats without constant reliance on American support.

In particular, Glucksmann supported the creation of a European air defense shield for Ukraine, the development of a joint defense industry, and an increase in common investment in arms production.

He also proposed using joint EU debt obligations to finance large-scale defense projects. However, such an initiative still faces resistance from Germany and several other states that favor a more cautious budgetary policy.

Glucksmann believes that disparate national armament programs are less effective than joint European projects. As an example of coordination problems, he mentioned difficulties in Franco-German cooperation on the development of a next-generation fighter jet.

Separately, the MEP warned about the political consequences of a possible victory by Marine Le Pen in the French presidential election in 2027. In his opinion, the rise of the French right-wing leader to power would be a major success for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On October 11, Glucksmann won the primary of the French center-left forces and received the support of the Socialist Party to participate in the 2027 presidential campaign.

If elected president, he intends to pay more attention to cooperation with Central and Eastern European countries, primarily Poland and the Baltic states, which directly face threats from Russia.

“The next president must go to Warsaw and Tallinn,” Glucksmann said, outlining the priorities of his possible foreign policy.

The French politician's statement came amid growing disagreements between Washington and its European allies over sanctions against Russia. While the Trump administration is easing restrictions on Russian diesel supplies, EU leaders are preparing to discuss further tightening of sanctions pressure on Moscow at a summit on October 15–16.

Based on materials from: Politico, The Guardian.