This month, European governments—including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Belgium, and others—plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). They will claim this is about “peace” and “justice.” In reality, it is a betrayal of a key U.S. ally, a gift to terrorists, and a direct slap in the face to the United States.

This is not statesmanship—it is surrender. By rewarding the butchers of Hamas, European leaders are legitimizing terror as a political strategy. It emboldens radicals, sidelines Israel’s legitimate security concerns, and erases the progress of the Abraham Accords, which proved that real peace in the Middle East comes through strength and economic cooperation, not appeasement and symbolic recognition at the U.N.

By recognizing a “Palestinian state,” these governments intend to confer legitimacy to the Palestinian Authority led by president-for-life Mahmoud Abbas, which has not held an election in nearly two decades and which openly funds “pay-for-slay” stipends to terrorists’ families, refuses to renounce Hamas, and incites hatred against Jews. The Trump administration made it clear what it thinks about this illegitimate government: Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked the visas of Abbas and 80 other officials ahead of the UNGA.

Undermining the Alliance

The damage from this reckless decision taken by several European governments extends far beyond the Middle East. It threatens to undermine the very foundation of the transatlantic alliance. Defense, trade, and intelligence cooperation between Europe and the U.S. rests on trust and shared values. By undercutting Israel—America’s strongest democratic ally in the region—Europe is showing Washington that it is more interested in mollifying its large domestic Muslim minorities at the U.N. than standing shoulder to shoulder with its allies against terror.

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President Trump has already made it clear: NATO is not a charity, and America’s dynamic economy is not something Europe can take for granted. If European governments want U.S. assistance for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s aggression, they cannot simultaneously undermine U.S. policy in the Middle East. Moreover, a Europe that recognizes Palestine while in many cases failing to meet NATO defense spending targets should not expect American taxpayers to keep footing the bill for their security.

The Trade Front

The same principle applies to trade. Washington and Brussels are already at odds over digital taxation, agricultural regulations, and energy policy. If these governments move forward with recognition, they should not be surprised when the Trump administration retaliates with tariffs, freezes negotiations, and conditions market access on support for American strategic priorities.

Europe’s leaders may imagine their symbolic vote at the U.N. comes without cost. But in reality, they are gambling with the transatlantic relationship. They are testing whether Washington will treat such actions as diplomatic theater or as a breach of trust. Under President Trump, there is no question: there will be consequences.

Globalist Illusions

At its core, Europe’s rush to recognize an imaginary Palestinian State exposes a deeper problem: the continent’s political class still clings to the failed globalist dogma that endless summits and hollow gestures can substitute for hard power and real security. European elites have learned nothing from the failures of the Oslo Accords or the repeated waves of Palestinian violence since the 1990s. They prefer moral preening in New York to confronting the reality on the ground: Israel’s survival is non-negotiable, and peace will never come through legitimizing extremist actors.

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Worse, this recognition drive ignores the broader context of Middle East diplomacy. The Abraham Accords demonstrated that Arab states are willing to pursue peace and normalization with Israel when they see American leadership and resolve. By rushing to reward Palestinian intransigence, Europe undermines that progress. Instead of encouraging Palestinians to renounce terror and reform and engage, Europe is telling them they can bypass compromise, pocket international recognition, and continue funding terrorism with impunity.

A Test for the Alliance

The United States should be crystal clear. Under a second Trump administration, the United States expects European partners to be reliable allies. Strong trade, military cooperation, intelligence sharing all rest on trust, shared commitments and common values. Premature and misguided recognition of a Palestinian state will be treated by Washington not as a harmless gesture but as a breach of trust. Europe cannot afford to alienate the US when the continent faces so many economic and military challenges like jumpstarting their moribund economies and helping defend Ukraine.

This is not a threat; it is a reality of America First foreign policy. The U.S. does not exist to subsidize allies who undercut its strategic priorities. For too long, Europe has assumed Washington would overlook betrayals in the name of “unity.” That era is over. In Trump’s world, alliances are reciprocal, and loyalty matters.

Recognition of a Palestinian state at the UNGA is not just about Israel. It is about whether European leaders take seriously the responsibilities of alliance with the United States—or whether they continue down the path of appeasement and self-delusion. If Europe chooses the latter, it should be prepared to face the consequences.