On 28 March 2025, The New York Times reported that Russia is systematically undermining European political systems through financing and disinformation campaigns aimed at far-right parties across the continent. The article begins:
For years, the threat of a Russia intent on expansion has loomed over much of Europe. It is not just the war in Ukraine. Moscow has also stationed military forces in friendly countries and fanned the flames of destabilizing political movements across the continent. Now, as the Trump administration strikes a conciliatory tone toward Russia and pulls away from some of America’s oldest allies, European leaders who long enjoyed the backing of the powerful U.S. military sense an extraordinary moment of vulnerability. For nearly 80 years, the United States has been the defensive and financial cornerstone of democratic security pacts created after World War II, in large part to keep the Soviet Union from marching across Europe. And even now, more than 80,000 American troops are deployed in Europe, some in a show of force right on Russia’s doorstep…
Key Points:
- Russia allegedly finances election campaigns of pro-Russian candidates and promotes far-right parties through coordinated disinformation operations.
- Germany’s AfD party members have been suspected of receiving Russian backing, while the Trump administration has criticized European rejection of far-right groups.
- In Moldova, President Sandu faced a challenger accused of being “Moscow’s man,” bolstered by foreign vote-buying schemes and influence operations.
- The Trump administration has cut vital USAID grants to pro-democracy groups in both Moldova and Serbia, potentially enabling Russian influence efforts.
The Global National Conservative Alliance (GNCA) is an ideological coalition uniting right-wing and far-right movements worldwide under shared principles of national sovereignty, cultural identity, and opposition to global institutions. Although Russia initially sought to lead this movement, its role has been diminished by the war in Ukraine.
For a list of worldwide GNCA political parties, go here.
For a GIOR analysis of GNCA positions, go here.
Disclaimer: The GOR utilizes AI to generate summaries of news items, including the introduction and the key points that follow. Any text following the key points is context added by GIOR editors. Please verify all information before using. Images are also AI-generated and are for illustrative purposes only—they are meant to represent the events or individuals concerned but should not be understood as “real-world” photography.
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