We are all acutely aware of the major USAID controversy, which laid bare a truth long suspected by many: operating under the banner of humanitarianism and development aid, this U.S. federal agency—commanding a budget surpassing even that of the CIA—has served as a tool for persistent and significant meddling in the domestic affairs of sovereign nations. This interference has, at times, escalated to the point of funding and orchestrating regime changes and coups d'Etat.
In a detailed study commissioned by MCC Brussels, journalist and researcher Thomas Fazi reveals striking parallels in the European Commission’s conduct. Leveraging significant EU financial resources, the Commission engages in sophisticated propaganda efforts, information warfare, and subversive activities. These operations extend beyond the European Union’s borders—think of Moldova and Georgia as prominent examples—while also targeting its own member states. Specifically, it directs these efforts against countries like Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and, more recently, Romania, where governments dare to oppose EU policies that lack popular support among their citizens.
The European Commission channels its influence through a network of NGOs, think tanks, and foundations, systematically eroding the bedrock of democratic principles. In doing so, it tarnishes the credibility of civil society as a whole, supplanting it with a cadre of generously funded proxies. Even more troubling, the Commission indirectly bankrolls media organizations, with leading press agencies such as AFP and Reuters among the primary beneficiaries.
For further insights, Thomas Fazi’s work can be explored in the pages of our British counterparts at UnHerd, our American peers at Compact Magazine, and through in his Substack.
L'Eclaireur:
Thomas Fazi, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me.
If that's okay with you, let's start with what's happening in Brussels and what seems to be the fallback of the US deep state in Europe.
Thomas Fazi:
First of all, thanks for having me, and hello to everyone who's listening in.
I think there are different layers to understanding what's happening in Europe—the absolute and utter madness unfolding right now. Trump is clumsily trying to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine, while the Europeans, for the first time in decades, are standing up to the US to double down on a war that has proven absolutely disastrous—not only for Ukraine but also for Europe, both economically and geopolitically.
I would argue this isn't a coincidence. In fact, one of America's unstated aims in this war has been not just to use Ukraine as a proxy to weaken Russia but also to weaken Europe itself. By forcing Europe to sever economic ties with Russia, particularly in the energy sector, the US has made Europe more dependent on American resources, particularly LNG.
This has been an American geostrategic objective for a long time, and the US has been quite open about it. That’s why Washington opposed the construction of Nord Stream 2. Trump's first administration, more than any other, tried to halt Nord Stream 2 through sanctions and economic pressure on Germany. They slowed the project down but ultimately failed.
It's important to highlight this because Trump's current narrative—that Biden is solely responsible for the war in Ukraine—is misleading. The Ukraine conflict is a decades-long imperial project that has spanned multiple US administrations, including Trump's. It was during his administration that lethal weaponry was first provided to Ukraine, furthering NATO's de facto expansion into the country.
Fast forward to today—why are European governments taking this completely self-destructive stance? They have the chance to end a war that has been disastrous for Europe, yet they seem intent on sabotaging Trump's peace efforts and prolonging the conflict. And, at least in the short term, they've succeeded.
The narrative has shifted significantly in the past week. The standoff between Zelensky and Trump in the White House was a turning point. Up until then, Trump had control of the narrative, which left European leaders scrambling. Macron convened meetings with heads of state in Paris, but they seemed lost, grasping at straws, and ultimately destined to be passive bystanders while the US and Russia determined the outcome of the war.
However, after the Oval Office meltdown, the pro-war faction in Europe has regained the upper hand. Trump, in a way, handed them a victory on a silver platter—not just in Europe but also in the US. His public humiliation of Zelensky was a major strategic misstep. It gave the pro-war lobby in Europe the ammunition they needed to justify continued military engagement.
