Pentagon officials are becoming increasingly "cool" towards their European colleagues - media
Kyiv • UNN
Since Trump's election, European defense ministries have felt a cooling in relations with their American counterparts. They are finding it difficult to get meetings, and the American military is changing its policies.
Officials and military personnel of European defense agencies are increasingly feeling a cooling in relations with their American counterparts, who are showing reluctance to continue partnerships. This happened after the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, writes UNN with reference to Defense News.
Details
During his years in Washington, a European defense official, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, said he was used to a certain warmth from his American colleagues. As an example, he cited the annual Air Force conference in Aurora.
Every year when he traveled, speakers thanked US allies for their help, and at least one American officer would approach him with the question: "What can we do for you?"
This changed this month at the same conference in Aurora, Colorado. A small number of those present hardly mentioned American allies, the official noted. No one asked him what he needed.
For many Europeans visiting or working in Washington, moments of courtesy are becoming rarer as President Donald Trump's administration is rapidly changing America's 75-year military role in Europe.
Officials said it is difficult to get meetings with their Pentagon counterparts, including long-standing contacts. At the same time, in private conversations, American defense officials are making drastic changes in policy: from reducing American forces on the continent to a lack of interest in confronting China in the Pacific Ocean.
The official noted that this change is forcing many European officials to wonder who they should listen to and what the Pentagon's new strategy is.
It feels like the task is not to promote European allies and NATO, but to ensure the withdrawal of the US with minimal fuss
This story is based on interviews with a group of European officials, all of whom were allowed to speak anonymously so as not to become a target for the Trump administration. They described the personal consequences of the new cooling that the Pentagon is showing towards Europe. This situation is already forcing European governments to doubt the US commitment to them and, in turn, their commitment to the US.
Warning signs for Europe during Trump's second administration appeared fairly quickly. The President has long been skeptical of the US role in NATO and has accused European partners of relying too heavily on US military power. This rhetoric intensified when Defense Secretary Pete Hegset visited the alliance's headquarters in February.
The leaders of our European allies must take primary responsibility for the defense of the continent
Such statements by US officials, according to Europeans, indicate that the Americans are increasingly distancing themselves from European allies and it is difficult to predict what their actions will be in the future.
Addition
Republican chairmen of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees on Wednesday issued a joint statement criticizing the idea of a radical change in the command structure of the US armed forces. They stated that they "will not accept" these changes without coordination with Congress and other agencies.
