U.S. Reorients Foreign Funding Strategy to Bolster Conservative Groups in Europe
WASHINGTON — The United States is initiating a significant shift in its foreign funding priorities, directing State Department resources toward a growing network of conservative and right-wing think tanks across Europe. This reorientation, aimed at promoting specific ideological alignments often associated with the “MAGA” movement, marks a departure from traditional bipartisan diplomacy efforts and has sparked intense debate in European capitals.
At the center of this initiative is Sarah Rogers, the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy. Rogers recently concluded a tour of key European cities—including London, Paris, and Rome—where she met with representatives from various organizations to discuss potential grant opportunities. State Department officials have indicated that this funding stream is intended to counter what the administration views as rising censorship and to promote “American values” of free speech abroad.
A primary focus of the initiative appears to be challenging digital regulations that Washington argues stifle expression. Specifically, U.S. officials have expressed critical views regarding the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act and the European Union’s Digital Services Act. By supporting groups that oppose these regulatory frameworks, the U.S. aims to foster a transatlantic coalition resistant to what it describes as “American-targeted regulatory schemes.”
Several European organizations are reportedly lining up to participate in the program. Among those engaged in early talks are the Free Speech Union, a British advocacy group, and Western Arc, a newly established conservative think tank in France. Additionally, figures associated with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party and the Machiavelli Foundation in Italy have been identified as potential partners. The Washington-based Heritage Foundation has played a consultative role, allegedly providing U.S. officials with lists of ideologically aligned groups in Europe that would be suitable candidates for support.
The funding initiative is being rolled out in conjunction with preparations for the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence. Proponents argue that the program is a necessary evolution of U.S. soft power, designed to ensure that American perspectives on liberty and deregulation are robustly represented in global policy debates. “This is a transparent, lawful use of resources to advance U.S. interests,” a State Department spokesperson stated, pushing back against characterizations of the program as a “slush fund” for partisan politics.
However, the move has drawn sharp criticism from center-left governments and European Union officials, who view it as a direct interference in domestic political affairs. Concerns have been raised in Brussels and Berlin that the influx of U.S. government money into partisan think tanks could deepen political polarization and destabilize established diplomatic norms. Critics argue that bypassing traditional diplomatic channels to directly fund ideological allies undermines the principle of non-interference and could strain transatlantic relations.
As applications for these grants open, the scope of the program is expected to expand, with initiatives slated for major hubs including Berlin and Brussels. The development signals a more aggressive, ideology-driven approach to U.S. foreign policy, one that seeks to export domestic political battles to the international stage.
* unherd.com
* kyivpost.com
* reddit.com
* brusselssignal.eu
* eualive.net
* desmog.com
* agenzianova.com
* brusselstimes.com
* spotmedia.ro
