In recent weeks, Pentagon officials have approached several NATO countries during bilateral meetings to ask them to tone down their public rhetoric regarding Russia. According to Reuters sources, among the nations receiving these signals are Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Washington argued that certain statements by European leaders and officials undermine the continent's security. At the same time, sources note it remains unclear whether similar messages were delivered to the governments of other European countries.
Call for Restraint and the Role of Elbridge Colby
One of the key figures transmitting the signal to European partners was identified as Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, who is also involved in the ongoing review of U.S. troop numbers in Europe. According to one agency source, Colby stated in a recent conversation with an official from a Baltic country that Europe should not "annoy" the Russians. As an example that the U.S. side considered counterproductive, he cited public statements by European politicians claiming that Russia has been "driven into a corner like a rat." Separately, reports indicate that during a recent meeting, the Pentagon urged the Estonian delegation to be "restrained" in its remarks.
Tone of the Messages and Reaction of European Capitals
None of the agency's sources claimed that the U.S. remarks were delivered in a confrontational manner. According to one European official, the Pentagon's advice was given in a friendly tone, which was precisely what surprised European partners: for several capitals, the very recommendation from Washington to temper public threat assessments came as unexpected. Thus, within the alliance, a debate is effectively underway regarding what language is permissible in public discussions about Russian policy.
Context: Recent Statements by Leaders
The Pentagon's appeal comes amid a series of high-profile statements by European and Russian leaders. Recently, Vladimir Putin stated that Russia is ready for war with Europe but "does not want" a conflict, while Moscow, according to him, "supports any steps" to resume relations with European countries. British Defence Secretary John Healey (referred to locally as Ves Striting) stated in turn that Britain must strengthen its defenses and prepare for a potential war with Russia by 2030. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned EU countries against complacency, pointing out that, in his assessment, Russia aims not only to defeat Ukraine but also to undermine democracy in Europe. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned of a potentially serious escalation in Russia's hybrid war against Europe in the near future.
What This Means for the Alliance
The situation reported by sources indicates that NATO is discussing not only its military line but also its information and rhetorical posture toward Russia. For Washington, the reported priority is to avoid formulations that, from its perspective, could be used as a pretext for further escalation. For the Baltic states, by contrast, a harsh public assessment of the threat remains a core part of national and alliance security policy. For now, both sides, judging by available data, maintain a diplomatic tone, but the divergence in assessing acceptable rhetoric is becoming a noticeable element of intra-alliance dialogue.
