A strategic gap between some European right‑wing parties and the US administration has emerged in recent months following recent US foreign policy decisions, particularly regarding the war on Iran.
Brussels Signal spoke to several European right-wing figures—some on the record, others off—who voiced concern over recent US foreign policy shifts affecting European interests at the latest Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), held in Budapest on March 21.
Among the main criticisms were the potential economic and migration consequences the attack on Iran could have for Europe, of which many believe Donald Trump is not taking sufficient account.
CPAC is a regular gathering of conservative activists and politicians, primarily from the United States but increasingly from Europe and beyond, focused on shared political agendas and global conservative priorities. The European edition, held annually in Budapest under the auspices of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has become strategically significant for the European Right.
Many European right-wing parties—often described domestically as extremist by opponents and the media—have received key endorsements from figures associated with the MAGA movement close to Donald Trump. These endorsements have contributed to attempts at normalising these parties domestically, reflecting the influence of American positions in Europe and making CPAC a central moment for integrating European right-wing parties into the Atlantic network.
For instance, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attended CPAC in Florida in February 2022, just months before her election, reinforcing her alignment with the Atlantic conservative world. Last year, Alice Weidel, leader of Germany’s AfD, attended Budapest CPAC, receiving recognition from both American and European conservatives after years of scepticism toward her party.
This year, however, relations between European and American right-wing forces showed signs of cooling.
Over the past 12 months, two US positions have particularly strained ties: Trump’s proposals regarding Greenland and the ongoing US-Israel offensive against Iran.
The first visible sign of this divergence at CPAC was the absence of prominent French figures. In previous editions, leaders such as Jordan Bardella, president of France’s Rassemblement National (RN), and Marion Maréchal had appeared on stage. This year, however, no prominent French guests were present.
This absence was partly due to municipal elections in France over the weekend, where the RN ran candidates in various cities. However, multiple French sources confirmed a broader reluctance among RN politicians to appear publicly at an American right-wing event at this time.
Although the RN has not publicly criticised the offensive in Iran, aligning more closely with the US and Israel than with those condemning it, it has previously criticised Trump’s Greenland plan, with Bardella calling it “a challenge to European sovereignty”. Within the RN, there is concern that appearing too closely aligned with the US could reduce support ahead of the 2027 presidential elections, where Bardella currently leads in the polls.
Similarly, no prominent Italian political figures attended this CPAC edition.
Deputy Prime Minister and Lega leader Matteo Salvini participated via video, but no key representatives of Fratelli d’Italia, PM Giorgia Meloni’s party, or the Lega were present.
In Italy, as in France, important votes took place over the weekend—a referendum on judicial reform—which contributed to the absence of senior politicians, but political considerations also played a role. Giorgia Meloni faces difficulties in translating the endorsements she has received in recent years from Trump and the MAGA world into increased geopolitical leverage for Italy, or into securing a privileged position with the United States.
Unlike other European countries theoretically less aligned with the US administration, Italy was not notified in advance when the United States launched its attack on Iran a few weeks ago, a factor that contributed to the Italian prime minister distancing herself from the military operation.
Within her political camp, many consider participation in events such as CPAC to be, on balance, more counterproductive than beneficial, as it attracts criticism from European partners without strengthening Italy’s geopolitical position.
In contrast, several German politicians from the AfD were present. This was despite the party’s co-leader Tino Chrupalla having strongly criticized Trump over the attack on Iran: “Donald Trump started out as a peace president – he will end up as a war president,” he said on March 18.
However, at CPAC a relevant place was reserved for co-leader Alice Weidel, who has been more cautious in her assessments than Chrupalla and was given a prominent speaking slot on stage.
Afd politicians also confirmed to Brussels Signal their criticism of the attack on Iran, viewing it as a potential source of destabilisation in the Middle East and a driver of new migration flows toward Europe. Some drew parallels with the migration wave triggered by the destabilisation of Syria in the previous decade, which significantly affected Germany and altered the urban landscape of parts of the country.
Despite these differences in assessment, however, the United States remains too important a partner for the AfD. Domestically, the party faces strong political, media, and intelligence pressure, and support from the MAGA world is seen as indispensable as a form of external backing.
For right-wing leaders in Europe personal and ideological ties with the MAGA movement remain strong and strategic, but disagreements over Iran and Greenland show that US policy can clash with European political realities.
Their challenge is clear: Maintain Atlantic connections without alienating voters at home. How they navigate this tension in the coming months could define the future shape and influence of Europe’s conservative movement.
