Donald Trump meets Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis at the WEF 2018. The Swiss Foreign Minister understands Trump’s sweeping attack on Europe. Image: KEYSTONE
On Friday, US President Donald Trump attacked Europe head-on with his new security strategy. Since then, the EU has been in turmoil. What do Swiss politicians say about this?
Dec 11, 2025, 11:26Dec 11, 2025, 11:26
States should decide for themselves who they let in and who they grant citizenship to. And anyway:
“The era of mass migration is over.”
And something else is over: Wokeness:
“Diversity, equity and inclusion must be erased because they stand in the way of a successful future.”
Sounds like the SVP party program?
But it’s not. All quotes are from from the National Security Strategy of the USA. The White House released the paper on Friday. It is only 33 pages thin – and according to experts it is still breaking a taboo. Because it calls into question the transatlantic friendship that has been taken for granted for decades.
What does Trump’s rant mean for Europe?
The woke issues are responsible for the fact that the West is economically and politically weak and is well on the way to losing its own sovereignty.
The world works best when each state prioritizes its own interests. “The most important political unit is the nation.”
It is feared that the USA is no longer an ally. But a great power that interferes in Europe as it sees fit.
The National Security Strategy is only 33 pages thin. But these have it all.Image: Imago Images
While the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sharply rejected the criticism from Washington and in parts as “unacceptable” comes from Federal Councilor Cassi’s understanding of Trump’s tirades:
What exactly does the US’s changed strategy mean for Switzerland? How do the parties position themselves?
That’s what the SVP says
Opposite Watson wants SVP parliamentary group president Thomas Aeschi prefers not to take a position. He just says this much:
«Switzerland is a neutral and independent state. The SVP does not comment on how other states or actors are positioning themselves.”
Is Guy Parmelin the ideal contact person as the new Federal President? Is the SVP the natural partner for future talks with Trump? Aeschi answers these questions: “No comment.”
Thomas Aeschi shares his rejection of the EU with Donald Trump.Image: keystone
SP: “Attack on democracy”
Fabian Molina is one of Switzerland’s most prominent foreign policy experts. The SP National Council is very concerned about the content of the US strategy paper. “It is an expression of a return from aggressive nationalism, which is turning away from a world order that is based on international law,” says Molina. “Instead, this strategy represents a policy that is based on the law of the strongest.”
Fabian MolinaImage: keystone
For Molina, Trump’s announcement that he would actively intervene in European politics is an “attack on our democracy and our sovereignty.”
Molina is upset that Foreign Minister Cassis still understands Trump’s statements:
«This is a scandal. Cassis’ statements amount to submission to neo-fascist politics. That’s really really bad.”
Fabian Molina (SP)
Instead of courting Trump, we have to stand up to him. Molina names three points: closer cooperation with European partners, reducing dependence on the USA and protecting democracy from such attacks. The latter means fighting disinformation campaigns and the influence of the “tech oligarchy” on social media, said Molina.
And the US Embassy?
Watson from the US embassy in Bern would have liked to know who, from the US perspective, is the ideal political partner in Switzerland.
Watson’s questions remained unanswered even when asked.
“Quiet, piggy!” – this is how Trump reacts to critical questions from the media
Video: Watson/Lucas Zollinger