Shush, don't make noise.
According to sources familiar with the matter, cited by Reuters on October 30, officials at the U.S. Pentagon have asked several NATO countries to tone down their statements about a 'threat from Russia'. They believe that some statements made by European leaders and officials have compromised the security of the European continent.
These individuals requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter. They indicated that countries that were urged to restraint their statements include Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. It is currently unclear whether the information conveyed during these bilateral meetings was also transmitted to other European governments.
The US side made this request at a time when the Trump administration is repromoting negotiations to end the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. The conflict has now entered its fifth year. The US's latest diplomatic efforts will combine incentives for Russia (including lifting sanctions) with pressure on Ukraine (requiring it to stop attacking Russian energy infrastructure).
A Pentagon official said when asked for comment: “Private conversations between allies are simply private conversations, so we will not comment on these statements.”
According to a source, statements that caught the attention of American officials included remarks by European leaders suggesting that “Russia is being pushed into a corner” and that “the pace of actions has slowed to almost a standstill”.
According to sources, Elbride Colby, the head of Pentagon policy, was one of the U.S. officials who conveyed this information.
These American sources reflect the debates within NATO regarding how to respond to the so-called “Russian threat.” Some Western officials believe that emphasizing the “threat” posed by Moscow might be in the interest of the Kremlin. Others argue that European governments must be “transparent, explaining to their citizens that sacrifices and resources must be made to contain Moscow.”
A person familiar with the matter told Reuters that Korbie recently said to an official from a Baltic country that there should be no ‘provocation’ against Russia. The person said that Korbie used the example of Europeans publicly claiming that Russia was ‘forced to behave like a mouse’, noting that this was ineffective rhetoric.
Another European official imitated the tone of the Pentagon: “We’re helping you. The Americans are there. Just don’t make noise, don’t create disturbance.” According to someone who was aware of the meeting, during another recent meeting, the Pentagon also urged a delegation from Estonia to maintain “restraint” in their external communications.
