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It is "in the interest of the United States and Europe" that the European Union be dissolved". That is what Nile Gardiner, director of the European branch of the Heritage Foundation, says to Nieuwsuur. That conservative think tank is known as the main shaper of the policies of US President Donald Trump's second term.

The Trump administration supports "movements and political leaders in Europe" who are "pro-American and believe that Europe should take a different direction," Gardiner says. This concerns leaders of Italy, Poland and Hungary, who see the conservative thinker as "important allies."

In February, Vice President J.D. Already sharply criticized Europe. This summer , further indications came to light that the U.S. is out on a change of power.

According to the new U.S. security strategy, which was published this month, Europe is in danger of "losing its civilization through immigration and the disappearance of national identities." The document praises nationalist parties "who want to preserve the individual character and history of European countries" and supports patriotic parties in their struggle to dismantle the EU from within.

In response, European Commissioner for Human Rights called on Michael O'Flaherty to take courage against US criticism of the EU. European heads of government reacted remarkably little. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was fierce and called the plan "unacceptable and unacceptable."

The chairman of the committee in the European Parliament that maintains contact with the US called the security strategy "a frontal attack on the EU." The words of the White House, according to him, amount to interference in European elections. 'Warning for Europe'

From right-wing parties, there is also a positive reaction to the American policy paper. Member of the European Parliament Mieke Andriese (PVV) calls it a "clear strategic warning for Europe" this week. "Mass immigration threatens our European identity."

Member of the European Parliament Sander Smit (BBB), a member of a committee for strengthening European democracy, can also agree with parts of the American criticism. "BBB does not support the abolition of the EU, but believes that the EU urgently needs internal reforms because of a democratic deficit, diminishing legitimacy and too much bureaucracy," he tells Nieuwsuur. Read his entire response here.

Nile Gardiner is now going a step further with his plea for the abolition of the EU. "I don't see any future scenario where Europe is better off with the survival of the European Union than without."

There are "deep-rooted concerns in the US capital Washington about what is seen as the suppression of freedom of expression within the European Union," says Gardiner. The EU would have too much power over the member states.

The conservative thinker points, among other things, to the fines that the European Commission handed out to the social medium X, owned by tech billionaire and ex-Trump adviser Elon Musk. The fines totalled 120 million euros and were imposed for violations of an internet law. With these types of "attacks on U.S. tech companies," the EU would undermine US security.

Moreover, the Union would not listen to the voice of the people and restrict the power of right-wing radical parties such as the AfD. And the EU would open the gates for mass migration. Gardiner fears the increasing influence of Islam. "All this makes the EU doomed." 'Europe reacts too weakly'

According to the leading Irish researcher Judy Dempsey (Carnegie Institute), the European Union is responding too weakly and too slowly to the Trump administration's lashing out. "The Europeans don't look at themselves, but just say: don't you dare criticize our democracy."

Dempsey, who is researching international relations, argues that the EU does not use its large internal market sufficiently as a geopolitical instrument. "The EU is not confident and knows how to sell itself poorly."

Trump is responding to this by politically influencing and dividing Europe, the researcher says. "The idea that a divided EU would be in US favour is at odds with the transatlantic view that has been in place since 1945."

"The weakness of Europeans is that they do not confront far-right populist parties, whether in France, the Netherlands, Germany or Italy."

According to Gardiner, the plan to turn the EU into a defense force clashes with US interests. "This undermines the NATO alliance, while it pulls military resources away," he says. "NATO will hopefully exist for centuries to come, but the EU will eventually disappear."

The U.S. under Trump supports right-wing nationalist parties in Europe that "insist on more sovereignty and self-determination," Gardiner says. He mentions, among others, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish President Karol Nawrocki and the party president of France's Rassemblement National, Jordan Bardella. Gardiner emphasizes that it is about political support; there would be no question of financial aid. Discussion within the Heritage Foundation

The Heritage Foundation is an independent right-wing conservative think tank in Washington. They developed 'Project 2025', policy proposals that the government is now implementing. Nile Gardiner is the director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, the European branch of The Heritage Foundation.

The extreme course that the Heritage Foundation has been pursuing since this year leads to ideological discussions within the institute: in recent weeks, some fifteen employees left the institute. Disagreements included stopping support for Ukraine and the controversial tariff policy that President Trump is pursuing. Heritage director Kevin Roberts also initially refused to condemn statements by the far-right, anti-Semitic influencer Nick Fuentes.

Discussions on Reddit about the Heritage Foundation with one saying that the think tank was founded by former Nazis or at least has remote connections to Nazis.