Pentagon officials have in recent weeks asked several NATO countries to tone down their rhetoric regarding the threat posed by Russia, arguing that some statements by European leaders and officials have undermined continental security, four people familiar with the matter told Reuters on October 30.
Among the nations that have received messages urging them to keep public statements in check are Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity. It was not clear if the messages, which were delivered in bilateral meetings, were conveyed to other European governments.
"No poking" at Russia
Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, a key figure in an ongoing review of U.S. troop levels in Europe, was one of the U.S. officials delivering the message, the people said. One person familiar with the discussions said Colby recently told a Baltic official that there should be no "poking" directed at Russia, citing public remarks suggesting that Moscow was "cornered like a rat" as an example of unhelpful rhetoric.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "rat in a corner" in late September, suggesting the Russian leader was resorting to sabotage efforts in Europe as Russia had become increasingly bogged down in Ukraine. In a separate 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 Pentagon officials complained about any specific statement.
"We are helping you. The Americans are there," said a separate European official, describing the Pentagon's recent private messaging. "Just don't be loud. Don't make noise."
A debate inside NATO — and silence from the capitals
The U.S. messages reflect a debate within NATO regarding how to publicly address the threat of an increasingly assertive Russia. The discussions were described as cordial rather than confrontational, and it remains unclear whether Washington delivered similar messages to other European governments.
Asked for comment, a Pentagon official said: "Private conversations among allies are just that, so we will not comment on these allegations." The defense ministries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia did not respond to requests for comment, while NATO declined to comment.
The U.S. requests come as the Trump administration restarts an effort to press for a negotiated end to the full-scale war in Ukraine, now well into its fifth year.
Sources: Reuters, The Straits Times, Kyiv Post, Times Now.