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🇸🇪 Sweden /Elections & Politics

Trump administration to fund European think tanks to influence policy

From Svenska Dagbladet · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • The Trump administration plans to fund European think tanks to influence elections and domestic policy, aligning with Donald Trump's political philosophy.
  • This initiative stems from a belief within the administration that Europe is facing a civilizational collapse due to issues like digital censorship and mass immigration.
  • The funding, managed by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), aims to promote political freedom and self-confidence in Europe, with specific allocations yet to be revealed.

The Trump administration is preparing to inject millions of dollars into European think tanks, aiming to shape political discourse and election outcomes across the continent. This initiative, spearheaded by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), reflects a belief within the administration that Europe is on the brink of a "civilizational collapse."

Samuel Samson, a 27-year-old advisor within the DRL, has been instrumental in this effort, making numerous trips to European countries including France, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Greece. His writings have echoed sentiments expressed by figures like JD Vance, who has frequently used terms such as "civilizational suicide" to describe modern Europe's trajectory.

Europe has degenerated into a breeding ground for digital censorship, mass immigration, restrictions on religious freedom, and several other attacks on democratic self-governance.

— Samuel SamsonSamuel Samson, a 27-year-old advisor within the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), described the state of Europe in an essay.

The DRL's strategy involves shifting focus from its global democracy projects to supporting European initiatives. While the bureau's previous budget for international democracy projects exceeded $200 million, a significant portion remains unallocated. A State Department spokesperson confirmed that some funds will target Europe, emphasizing priorities like political freedom and fostering "Europe's resurgence and civilization's confidence."

Exact funding amounts and recipients are still undisclosed, but Samson's extensive travel suggests a substantial investment. The initiative aims to counter what the administration perceives as Europe's descent into digital censorship, unchecked immigration, and restrictions on religious freedom, seeking to bolster democratic self-governance and Western philosophical traditions.

The national security strategy highlights our priorities in Europe, which include promoting political freedom and freedom of expression, and working with European allies to jointly support Europe's resurgence and civilization's confidence.

— U.S. State Department spokespersonA spokesperson for the U.S. State Department confirmed to Foreign Policy that some of the funding would go to Europe.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Svenska Dagbladet in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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