Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France’s far-left La France Insoumise (LFI) party, has labeled US President-elect Donald Trump “a threat” to Europe and accused the US of exploiting NATO for economic dominance.
In an interview with El País and La Repubblica, Mélenchon claimed Trump’s policies undermine European industries through protectionism and pressure NATO allies to bolster military spending to benefit the US.
“Trump threatens European industry with trade barriers and subordinates us through NATO,” Mélenchon argued, calling the alliance’s equipment policies a “tax” benefiting the US military economy. He also criticized America’s perpetual state of conflict, noting, “Out of 230 years of history, they’ve been at war for 229.”
Mélenchon tied Trump’s actions to a broader “liberal agenda” that prioritizes privatization over democracy, which he claims erodes the “democratic project.” Linking liberalism to extremism, he cited the January 6 Capitol riots as evidence of its anti-democratic tendencies.
Trump’s recent comments to NBC, warning NATO allies to “pay their bills” or risk the US leaving the alliance, echoed these concerns, with Washington already funding 15.8% of NATO’s $3.5 billion annual budget. Mélenchon’s remarks reflect growing European skepticism toward US foreign policy under Trump.
