The U.S. is sending mixed signals to NATO regarding support, says Pevkur
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur stated that NATO allies still do not have a clear understanding of exactly what kind of support the United States expects from them.
According to Pevkur, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is sending mixed signals regarding the allies’ participation in operations in the Middle East.
This was reported by Politico.
“First, Washington called on NATO to join the operations, then stated that allies were not needed, and later expressed the position that Alliance countries should act independently. So, in just three days, you have three different directions,” the minister emphasized.
Pevkur confirmed that Estonia is ready to ensure the safety of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and to discuss relevant steps with the U.S. side. He visited Washington in mid-March and held meetings with Pentagon officials.
At the same time, he said, the allies have yet to receive specific explanations regarding the expected role.
“Even this morning, I had a meeting with the Chief of Defense, and there is no clarity whatsoever from U.S. Central Command or other agencies, nor at the political level, regarding what the U.S. is demanding from its allies,” Pevkur noted.
The minister also rejected Trump’s accusations against NATO allies regarding insufficient support for the U.S. He recalled Estonia’s participation in military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“Proportionally, the number of casualties we have suffered in these conflicts is equal to what the U.S. has lost, so we have sacrificed ourselves as a nation, as an army; we have sacrificed our people for a common goal—world peace,” he said.
Pevkur added that divisions within NATO could negatively impact the security of the West.
“I believe that for all allies, it is crucial at this very moment to build bridges, not tear them down. Because that is exactly what Putin wants to see—for the West to be divided,” Pevkur added.
As a reminder, Donald Trump’s anger toward European allies over their refusal to support a war against Iran has triggered the deepest crisis in NATO’s 77-year history. The U.S. administration accuses its partners—the United Kingdom, France, and Spain—of refusing to provide airspace and military bases for operations in the Persian Gulf. Trump himself publicly called NATO a “paper tiger” and promised to review U.S. participation in the Alliance after the Iranian conflict ends.
The U.S. Congress and the Pentagon insist that no discussions regarding the country’s possible withdrawal from NATO are taking place. At the same time, within the Alliance itself, President Donald Trump’s high-profile statements are viewed more as a tool of political pressure than as a genuine intention.
