Financial Times: U.S. and Baltic states divided on Russia strategy
Financial Times reports rising friction between Washington and the Baltic states over Russia, as U.S. officials criticize their stance and Kaja Kallas faces EU pushback.
Financial Times columnist Gideon Rachman notes that differences are emerging between Washington and the Baltic states over how to handle relations with Russia.
He wrote that in the U.S. capital, some officials have voiced frustration with what they call the «Estonization» of European foreign policy. According to Rachman, figures close to President Donald Trump see the Baltic countries as excessively confrontational toward Moscow.
During a recent high-level Pentagon meeting, Baltic representatives were accused of pursuing an ideologically driven stance against Russia, he added.
At the same time, the Baltic states themselves show little trust in the White House. Rachman recalled visiting Estonia’s Foreign Ministry, where a poster displayed the results of the February UN General Assembly vote on an anti-Russian resolution. On that occasion, the United States opposed the document. He interpreted the display as a warning not to assume that America under Trump stood firmly on their side.
Separately, Politico reported last week that European Union foreign policy chief, former Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas, has drawn criticism in Brussels. Her rhetoric toward Russia is seen as overly hardline, while her stance on the Middle East crisis is viewed by some colleagues as too restrained.