Pentagon officials have in recent weeks approached several NATO countries with requests to temper their public rhetoric about the threat posed by Russia, arguing that certain statements from European leaders and officials have weakened security across the continent, according to four people familiar with the matter.

Among the countries that received messages urging restraint in public statements were Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The three Baltic republics, all NATO members since 2004, sit on the alliance’s eastern frontline with Russia. The messages were delivered in bilateral meetings, and it was not clear whether they were also conveyed to other European governments.

The US requests come as the Trump administration renews its effort to press for a negotiated end to the full-scale war in Ukraine, now well into its fifth year. The latest push has combined incentives for Russia — including sanctions relief — with pressure on Ukraine to halt its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.

Asked for comment, a Pentagon official said: “Private conversations among allies are just that, so we will not comment on these allegations.”

Among the remarks that have drawn US officials’ attention are suggestions by European leaders that Russia is cornered and resorting to increasingly desperate measures as its invasion of Ukraine slows to a crawl, one of the people said.

Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s policy chief and a key figure in an ongoing review of US troop levels in Europe, was among the US officials delivering the message, the people said. Reuters could not determine which other officials were involved.

None of the sources — three European officials and one US official — suggested the advice had been delivered in a confrontational manner.

Europe Should Avoid “Poking” Russia

The US messages reflect an ongoing debate within NATO over how to publicly address the threat of an increasingly assertive Russia. Some Western officials have argued that emphasizing the threat posed by Moscow could play into the hands of the Kremlin, which they say seeks to sow fear and undermine support for Ukraine. Others contend European governments must be transparent with their electorates about the sacrifices and resources required to keep Moscow at bay — particularly as Russia appears to accelerate a covert campaign of sabotage across the continent. Russia has denied that it is pursuing such a campaign.

One person familiar with the matter told Reuters that Colby recently told a Baltic official there should be no “poking” directed at the Russians. The person said Colby pointed to Europeans publicly suggesting that Russia was “cornered like a rat” as an example of unhelpful rhetoric.

It was not clear which specific statement Colby was referring to. However, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal in late September referred to Putin as a “rat in a corner,” suggesting the Russian leader was resorting to sabotage efforts in Europe as Russia became increasingly bogged down in Ukraine.

“We are helping you. The Americans are there,” a separate European official said, describing the Pentagon’s recent private messaging. “Just don’t be loud. Don’t make noise.”

In another recent meeting, the Pentagon urged an Estonian delegation to be “measured” in its communications, according to a person briefed on the encounter, though the person did not say whether Pentagon officials complained about any specific statement.

The defense ministries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia did not respond to requests for comment, while NATO declined to comment.

Moscow Tests Europe’s Resolve

One of the European officials said the Pentagon’s advice, while cordial, was baffling, noting that intelligence services in the Baltic states have in recent months consistently played down the probability of Russia testing NATO’s mutual defense provisions — the Article 5 commitment under which an armed attack against one ally is treated as an attack against all. Other NATO intelligence services, by contrast, have publicly warned that Russia could dramatically ramp up its sabotage campaign in the near future.

The Pentagon messages to NATO officials come at a fraught time for European security. Western intelligence officials have said Moscow has recently intensified its campaign of deniable attacks on NATO countries.

On Wednesday, German prosecutors said two Belarusians were arrested for allegedly planning to set fire to a building or critical infrastructure facility in the Nuremberg area. In September, the German government blamed Russia for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport — allegations Moscow has denied.

At the same time, US officials have been discussing potential business deals with Russia as part of the Trump administration’s push for peace in Ukraine. Those efforts have drawn mixed reactions from European officials, many of whom are pushing for the Kremlin’s continued economic isolation.

Pentagon planners, meanwhile, are reviewing Washington’s force posture in Europe, a process that could see a sharp drawdown in America’s troop presence on the continent. US officials have said European NATO members need to assume more responsibility for their own defense, particularly as the US focuses on threats in the Middle East, Latin America and East Asia. The outcome of the review will help determine how large a US military footprint the alliance’s European members can count on as that shift proceeds.

— Reuters

Source: BusinessWorld