From Friendship to Trade War: Trump Tests European Right-Wingers' Loyalty.

European far-right parties, which have always supported U.S. President Donald Trump, find themselves in a difficult situation following the imposition of new trade tariffs on European goods. This has led to a rift between their ideological support and economic interests. According to an analysis by the Observer Research Foundation cited by Eurasia Review, leaders of far-right parties gathered in Madrid under the slogan 'Make Europe Great Again' and expressed solidarity with such ideology and the re-elected Trump. However, this unity has been undermined by the introduction of tariffs on European goods. Experts estimate that such tariffs could lead to a reduction in Europe's economic growth by 1.5% or about 260 billion euros. The largest countries in Europe, where far-right parties are in power or have strong support, are expecting serious economic consequences. For example, Italy could lose about 7 billion euros, France faces the threat of losing support from its electorate, Spain forecasts losses of 4.3 billion euros, and Hungary will also feel the negative impact on its economy. Far-right party leaders are choosing various strategies to respond to the new tariffs. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently visited Washington, yet she failed to negotiate a tariff relief. However, she is trying to act as a mediator between Brussels and the White House, promoting the idea of a mutually beneficial trade agreement between the EU and the U.S. The current situation shows that economic interests often outweigh ideological closeness, especially when it comes to the economic repercussions for the voters of far-right parties in Europe. Far-right parties may balance between supporting Trump and defending their economic interests; however, due to the negative consequences of Trump's economic decisions, their connection with him may weaken. It also prompts an investigation into how far-right parties use their support for Trump to make deals for their countries or protect broader European interests.