Lithuania and Estonia deny receiving US request to tone down Russia rhetoric
Lithuanian and Estonian officials say the US has not asked them to soften statements about the Russian threat. Reuters had earlier reported, citing sources, that the Pentagon made such a request to several NATO members.
Senior officials in Lithuania and Estonia said on Friday that they have not received any US requests to tone down their rhetoric about the threat posed by Russia. The denials respond to reports that representatives of the US Department of Defense, the Pentagon, made such a call to several NATO members, including Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. NATO is the North Atlantic alliance whose members pledge mutual assistance if one is attacked.
What Reuters reported
Citing four informed sources, the Reuters news agency reported that the request stemmed from a belief that some European leaders' and officials' statements harm the continent's security. One source cited remarks that Russia is like a rat cornered, resorting to ever more desperate steps because its invasion of Ukraine has slowed to a minimum. That kind of rhetoric was described as pointless. The requests were reportedly not made in a confrontational manner.
One of the messages was reportedly delivered by Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's policy chief, who is involved in reviewing the level of US troop presence in Europe. According to one source, he told a Baltic official that Russia should not be provoked.
Lithuania's response
The Lithuanian president's office said President Gitanas Nauseda and his advisers had received no calls or requests from allies to soften their rhetoric. Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius said nobody had asked him anything and that Lithuania's position toward its eastern neighbours is unchanged. Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said he had no information about such requests and that Lithuania's statements are based on facts.
Estonia's response
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the US had made no proposals to change Estonia's rhetoric, adding that Estonia is respected as an expert on Russia. He said Russia organises terrorist attacks and sabotage in Europe and that it is Russia, not Estonia, that provokes. According to him, Estonia communicates with the US daily on security policy, troop deployment and NATO defence plans. Estonia's Ministry of Defence said it had received no such requests through official channels.
The reports emerged as the administration of US President Donald Trump renews efforts to hold talks on ending the war against Ukraine and has eased some sanctions on Moscow.
