Pentagon urges NATO allies to tone down rhetoric on Russia

Summary

• Pentagon officials have privately urged several European NATO allies, including Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, to moderate their public statements about the threat posed by Russia, according to people familiar with the discussions.
• Others say European governments should speak openly about the threat to explain the need for greater defence spending and other security measures to their electorates, particularly amid concerns about an intensifying Russian campaign of sabotage across Europe.
• A Pentagon official declined to comment on the reported discussions, saying: “Private conversations among allies are just that, so we will not comment on these allegations.” The messages come as the Trump administration renews efforts to negotiate an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine and reviews the deployment of US forces in Europe.

AI Generated Summary

Pentagon officials have privately urged several European NATO allies, including Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, to moderate their public statements about the threat posed by Russia, according to people familiar with the discussions.