Pentagon urges NATO allies to tone down warnings about Russia – Reuters
Photo: Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth (Getty Images)
Over the past few weeks, Pentagon officials have approached several NATO countries, including the Baltic states, asking them to tone down their rhetoric about the threat posed by Russia, according to Reuters.
The Pentagon argued that some statements by European leaders and officials undermine the security of the continent.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the countries urged to exercise restraint in their public statements include Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
However, it remains unclear whether these messages, delivered during bilateral meetings, were also conveyed to the governments of other European countries.
One source said comments that caught the attention of US officials included remarks by European leaders suggesting that Russia was backed into a corner and resorting to increasingly desperate measures as its invasion of Ukraine slowed to a grinding pace.
The sources said one of the US officials who delivered the message was Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's undersecretary of defense for policy and a key figure in the ongoing review of US troop levels in Europe.
However, none of the sources said the US side had delivered these remarks in a confrontational manner.
One source also said Colby recently told a Baltic official that Russia should not be "provoked."
According to the source, Colby cited public remarks by Europeans describing Russia as being "backed into a corner like a rat" as an example of unhelpful rhetoric.
Another source told the agency that during a separate recent meeting, the Pentagon urged an Estonian delegation to exercise "restraint" in its public statements.
According to one European official, the Pentagon's advice, although delivered in a friendly tone, came as a surprise to European officials.
As a reminder, Russian leader Vladimir Putin recently said that Russia was ready for war with Europe but did not "want" a conflict. At the same time, he said Russia "supports any steps" toward restoring relations with European countries.
Earlier, British Defense Secretary John Healey said the UK must strengthen its defenses and prepare for a possible war with Russia by 2030.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned EU countries against becoming complacent, saying that the Russian leader seeks not only Ukraine's defeat but also to undermine democracy in Europe.
We also reported on a warning from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. According to Tusk, a serious escalation in Russia's hybrid war against Europe could happen soon.
