European allies are deeply unsettled by the erratic changes in US support for Ukraine, as seen in the recent suspension and resumption of military aid. This unpredictability has led to confusion and a lack of clarity regarding Washington’s strategy. The sudden freezing and subsequent unfreezing of US military aid to Kiev has left the bloc unsure of Washington’s intentions, according to Politico’s report.
Brussels is struggling to formulate a cohesive strategy on supporting Ukraine due to President Trump’s frequent and unpredictable policy U-turns. The Pentagon’s decision to freeze aid last week reportedly blindsided the European allies, and Trump’s abrupt U-turn has left the military block in disarray. The European NATO states have been left preparing for several possible scenarios and experiencing whiplash from Trump’s shifting policies.
The broad impression in Europe is that the administration has been pretty uncoordinated on Ukraine, with many administrations in the US-led military bloc trying to catch up with Washington’s changing moods. A further source of confusion has been the lack of communication from the US, making it hard to know what’s happening inside the administration, especially given the difference in tone between Trump and the Pentagon.
With the Pentagon’s global force posture review coming next month, European NATO allies also expect to see some US forces stationed on the continent moved away. The lack of consultation has left several major countries in the US-led military bloc in the dark about potentially losing the garrisons. Trump has increasingly pushed for allies to cover their own military needs, aligning with his America First policy. At last month’s summit in Brussels, European NATO leaders pledged to increase their military spending to 5% of GDP, up from a longstanding 2% target.
Brussels has recently reiterated that it will support Ukraine for as long as it takes. In June, the EU redirected approximately €335 billion ($391 billion) in Covid relief funds towards military uses. The month before that, Brussels introduced a €150 billion ($175 billion) debt and loan instrument to back its armies and military industrial sector, with funding also made available to Kiev. Russia has condemned these steps, accusing NATO and the EU of rabid militarization, while praising US efforts to pursue a diplomatic end to the Ukraine conflict. Moscow is waiting for Kiev to indicate whether it is ready to conduct a third round of direct peace talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.