Kaja Kallas and Marco Rubio’s phone call was a pivotal moment in establishing early EU-US relations under Trump’s return to office.
It looks like Kaja Kallas and Marco Rubio’s phone call was a pivotal moment in establishing early EU-US relations under Trump’s return to office. Their agreement to keep up “maximum pressure” on Russia signals a continued hardline approach toward Moscow, especially concerning the situation in Ukraine.
The fact that Rubio welcomed the EU’s sanctions extension against Russia indicates a shared resolve in supporting Ukraine’s position despite Trump’s more controversial past statements about wanting to end the war quickly.
That shift in tone from Trump—now acknowledging the conflict might take months or longer to resolve—may help allay some concerns in Europe about his previous stance on Ukraine.
The broader scope of their conversation, including concerns about China, the Middle East, and defense spending, shows the complexity of global issues that Trump’s administration will have to navigate.
Trump’s push for European allies to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP—well above what even the US spends—was a particularly bold demand, highlighting the pressure he continues to place on NATO members.
Kallas, however, did seem to emphasize Europe’s readiness to take on more defense responsibility, which could be key to balancing the relationship.
Then there’s the matter of Greenland—Trump’s comments about potentially taking control of the island have certainly raised eyebrows in Europe. Although it’s unclear whether the issue was raised during this specific call, it seems like a point of tension that could come up later in discussions.
It seems like there’s a lot at play in the early stages of this administration’s foreign policy, and the dynamics with Europe are still evolving.
