The European far right facing Trumps toxic war

American President Donald Trump thought he could count on the support of the populist leaders of the far-right in Europe in his war against Iran, but they quickly turned against him as the war turned into a fiasco, especially because it is not well supported by European public opinion.

Imed Bahri

Large sections of the European far-right have lost their enthusiasm for the American president that they once revered, according to The Telegraph in a report on the consequences of the Iran war on the positioning of far-right parties in Europe vis-à-vis Donald Trump. The British newspaper specifies that the leaders of these parties have abandoned their fascination for the American president whom they once praised excessively. They certainly do not show any sympathy for the Islamic Republic of Iran, but the massive rejection of the war by public opinion in Europe puts them in a delicate situation.

Unpopularity of the war against Iran

These parties express their anger at Trump’s commitment to perpetual foreign wars because his toxic foreign policy could drag them down with his declining popularity and crumbling alliances.

In Britain, right-wing figures, including Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK Party, have distanced themselves from Trump’s war, suggesting that supporting the president in this conflict could prove politically suicidal.

Farage was once praised for his closeness to Trump.

The president of the Italian Council, Giorgia Meloni, surprised many observers when her government this week refused to allow American bombers to use an air base in Sicily on their way to the Middle East, illustrating the unpopularity of an American-Israeli war against Iran in Italy.

Meloni was once one of the most ardent supporters of Trump in Europe. Today, she is politically weakened after her failure in a referendum on judicial reform, a year before the legislative elections. She is now trying to distance herself from Trump, who had once called her a “great leader.”

“This government was wrongfully accused of being subservient to Trump,” said Deborah Bergamini, a deputy from Forza Italia, a party in the governing coalition, before adding: “Italy is not at war and has no intention of going to war.”

In France, despite strained relations with Trump, far-right leader Marine Le Pen did not hesitate to criticize the changing objectives of the war, arguing that the strikes against Iran were carried out “blindly” and without considering their impact on fuel prices.

Sources within the National Rally indicate that the United States seem bogged down in the conflict, and that foreign interventions are not only ineffective but may even strengthen the Iranian regime rather than weaken it.

Trump’s foreign policy causes concern

In Germany, relations between the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and the Trump administration have deteriorated after a period of close cooperation. Tino Chrupalla, a prominent figure in the party, expressed his “deep disappointment with President War Trump” and even called for the withdrawal of American troops from Germany.

In Poland, despite long-standing relations with Trump, signs of discord emerged after President’s foreign policy adviser Karol Nawrocki criticized the United States for not consulting their allies before striking Iran.

In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán remains one of Trump’s closest allies, but he has taken a more cautious position, warning against sending American ground troops to Iran, especially due to the sensitivity of energy prices in the domestic market.

Orbán leads Patriots for Europe in the European Parliament, a coalition that includes parties such as the Alternative for Germany (AfD), the National Rally (RN), and the Danish People’s Party (DFP), the latter being outraged by Trump’s attempt to annex Greenland.

“Trump had promised to withdraw American troops from conflict areas and boasted of his efforts to establish peace, but this rhetoric completely collapsed after his threats regarding Greenland and his attacks on Venezuela and Iran,” said Danish MEP Anders Vistisen.

In Spain, the Vox party and its leader Santiago Abascal had initially supported an attack against Iran before falling silent, a sign of waning enthusiasm.

However, not all have distanced themselves from Trump. Dutch politician Geert Wilders continued to support him, praising the attacks against Iran, a position that sets him apart within the European far-right.

According to the Telegraph, analysts believe that this is not a definitive break between the European far-right and Trump but rather a test of the strength of their relations. Most members of this political movement are hesitant about the war, while admiring Trump’s domestic policy without necessarily approving of his foreign interventions.