The EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, made a firm statement: countries aspiring to join the EU would do well to keep their distance from Trump’s slogan of “Make America Great Again.” She bluntly stated that such rhetoric—claiming European civilization is failing, economies are collapsing, and democracy is no longer legitimate—has nothing in common with the EU’s long-term vision.

Kos was unequivocal: the EU invests money and effort to bring in new members, not to see them lured away by other powers halfway through. If candidate countries simultaneously negotiate EU accession while cozying up to American conservative politics, then once they’re inside, whose side will they really be on—the EU’s or America’s?

Currently, the Trump administration is actively cultivating ties with nationalist and conservative forces across Europe. Last year, a U.S. national security report directly denounced the EU as “undermining political freedom,” calling for support of “patriotic European parties” to reverse Europe’s current trajectory. In the Western Balkans—countries like Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Albania preparing for accession—American capital has backed major infrastructure projects. With both financial investment and influence flooding in, the EU naturally cannot afford to remain passive.

Kos openly admitted that EU enlargement now faces a “rival.” When pressed by journalists about who exactly, she named Russia as one. The implication being clear: facing Russian outreach from the east and American interference from the west, the EU’s expansion is now caught in a two-front squeeze.

In Kos’s view, the world has changed—old allies are no longer reliable, new adversaries keep emerging—and EU enlargement can no longer proceed at the old slow pace. It must accelerate, ensuring new members truly integrate into the EU system rather than becoming pawns inserted by external powers into Europe. To gain entry, candidates must first clarify their stance—better stay far away from MAGA ideology.

Kos’s warning essentially amounts to a geopolitical reckoning. Once seen as mere “values export” or “market expansion,” EU enlargement is now explicitly framed by her as a security red line—marking the EU’s growing realization that enlargement is no longer just an internal administrative matter, but a frontline battlefield in great power competition.

If candidate countries enjoy the benefits of EU access while maintaining ambiguous ties with forces represented by Trump—those openly hostile to the EU—then isn’t the EU essentially grooming internal enemies? Especially in the Western Balkans, where ethnic, religious, and historical tensions run deep, the U.S. is using both capital and ideological tools to exert influence. If the EU fails to draw a clear boundary now, it may soon find itself unable to even sit at the negotiating table.

But the problem lies in this “either-or” ultimatum—it may be overly idealistic for candidate countries. They are already caught in a bind, needing both EU funding and market access, yet also reliant on American investment and security guarantees. While Kos’s words sound tough, they may not address these nations’ real-world anxieties. Without offering more compelling incentives than what the U.S. provides, mere rhetoric won’t stop hearts from turning elsewhere.

Even more telling is her labeling both Russia and the United States as “adversaries”—an admission that the EU is now fighting on two fronts. Yet internally, the EU grapples with deep divisions, economic stagnation, and rising right-wing movements. At a time when the bloc itself is struggling, demanding loyalty from aspirants feels somewhat absurd—like a house in disrepair demanding fidelity from others.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1875869640175616/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.