Pentagon urges Baltic states to tone down rhetoric on Russia - Reuters
Pentagon officials have urged several NATO allies, including Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, to tone down their public statements about the Russian threat, arguing that some European leaders' rhetoric could undermine security on the continent, Reuters reported on October 30, citing four people familiar with the discussions.
The messages were delivered privately during bilateral meetings in recent weeks. US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby was among the officials conveying the requests, according to Reuters.
One source said Colby had advised a Baltic official against "poking" Russia, pointing to European statements portraying Moscow as cornered and increasingly desperate as its war against Ukraine stalls.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "rat in a corner" in late September, linking Russia's difficulties in Ukraine to its suspected sabotage activities in Europe. Reuters could not establish whether Colby was referring specifically to Michal's remarks.
"We are helping you. The Americans are there. Just don't be loud. Don't make noise," one European official said, describing the Pentagon's message.
In another meeting, US officials reportedly urged an Estonian delegation to be more "measured" in its public communications.
The Pentagon declined to address the allegations, saying private conversations between allies would remain private.
The requests reflect a broader debate within NATO over how to communicate the Russian threat. Some Western officials argue that emphasizing Moscow's aggressive behavior risks spreading the fear the Kremlin seeks to create. Others believe governments must speak openly about the danger to justify increased defense spending and other security measures.
One European official told Reuters the Pentagon's advice was puzzling, given that Baltic intelligence services have generally played down the likelihood of Russia directly challenging NATO's collective defense commitments.
The reported requests come as the Trump administration renews efforts to negotiate an end to Russia's war against Ukraine, including discussions of sanctions relief for Moscow and pressure on Kyiv to halt strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon is reviewing US troop deployments in Europe, potentially paving the way for a substantial reduction in American forces on the continent.
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