The Pentagon’s decision, with the approval of US President Donald Trump, to restrict military aid to Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, is interpreted as a strategic shift that leaves more room for Russia to act in the region. The announcement was made in late August at a meeting with European diplomats and has already raised concerns about new incidents.
According to Reuters, US official David Baker stated that “Europe must stop being overly dependent on the US,” emphasising that the Trump administration is shifting its focus to “homeland defence.”
Concerns were heightened on September 19, when Tallinn reported an airspace violation of Estonia by Russian MiG-31s, which were intercepted by Italian F-35s. Moscow rejected the accusations, claiming that the aircraft flew over “neutral waters.” On the same day, Poland reported Russian fighters near an oil platform, while earlier it had shot down drones of Russian origin.
Trump’s reaction was low-key, stating hours later that the situation could turn into a “big problem.” On the issue of Poland, he had limited himself to a brief post on Truth Social with the word “Go!”
Observers note that after a summer of intense initiatives — with strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the strengthening of Ukraine with Patriot systems and tough rhetoric against Russia — Trump appears more introspective, focusing on issues such as crime, tackling “violent left-wing action,” and changes in the visa issuance process.
The long-awaited meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska yielded no results, with Trump stating that “a ceasefire in Ukraine is not a prerequisite for permanent peace” — a position closer to Moscow but rejected by the EU. In the Middle East, Washington limited itself to protests after the bombing of Hamas offices in Qatar and maintained a neutral stance on Israel’s operations in Gaza.
On September 4, Trump criticised European dependence on the US, asking the EU to impose “100% tariffs” on China and India for their transactions with Russia, as a condition for potential US support. Diplomats estimate that the request is difficult to implement, as the EU prefers sanctions over tariffs, while Trump himself has spoken in favour of lifting restrictions with India.
Washington did not respond to a letter from lawmakers from the Baltic countries who requested a review of the aid cuts. A White House official commented that “many of our European allies are among the wealthiest countries in the world, so they are perfectly capable of funding these programmes themselves.”
(Information from protothem.gr)
