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Pentagon Tells Europe to Cool Russia Rhetoric

· Fact-checked before it aired. Unconfirmed claims from this segment are not shown.

The Pentagon has privately urged several NATO members, including Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, to soften public statements about Russia, arguing that rhetoric such as calling Russia “cornered like a rat” undermines continental security. Reuters reported this based on four anonymous sources, including three European officials and one U.S. official. Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby was one of the officials delivering the message.

The U.S. is in the middle of a renewed push for a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine, coupled with a review of U.S. troop levels in Europe. Washington is using sanctions relief as an incentive toward Russia while pressing Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. The messaging reflects a NATO debate over whether emphasizing the Russian threat deters Moscow or plays into the Kremlin's fear-sowing narrative.

Pentagon officials have privately asked several NATO allies, including Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, to tone down public rhetoric about Russia, arguing some European statements undermine continental security.

Reuters reported that an ASEAN envoy met a Myanmar minister to discuss the civil war and humanitarian aid access.

Reuters reported gold slipped as higher oil prices and U.S. inflation data strengthened bets on further Federal Reserve rate hikes.

Reuters reported Israeli forces demolished the house of Palestinians in the West Bank.

Reuters reported Friedrich Merz plans to relay Asian partners' concerns about protectionism to EU institutions in Brussels.

The Bank of Japan kept interest rates steady, and analysts offered reactions, as reported by Reuters.

Mistral announced it is releasing the weights of its Mistral Large 4 model on mistral.ai.

Fact-check

VERIFIED TRUE

Reuters reported gold slipped as higher oil prices and U.S. inflation data strengthened bets on further Federal Reserve rate hikes.

Gold slips as higher oil, US inflation data bolster Fed hike bets https://t.co/Dm330uFqWS

Original post · @Reuters

Reuters NAMES: Fed = U.S. Federal Reserve.

VERIFIED TRUE

The Bank of Japan kept interest rates steady, and analysts offered reactions, as reported by Reuters.

VIEW Analysts react to BOJ decision to keep rates steady https://t.co/cNxawF46Tq

Original post · @Reuters

Reuters NAMES: BOJ = Bank of Japan.

Sources

What the hosts said

EGood morning, and it's Friday. The Pentagon has a message for Europe: cool it on Russia.
SA Reuters exclusive overnight. Four sources say U.S. officials have privately asked NATO allies to soften their public talk about Moscow.
EAmong them—Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia. The argument is that some of this rhetoric makes continental security worse.
SPentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby reportedly told a Baltic official there should be no "poking" at Russians.
ESubtle, I know. The backdrop—Estonia's prime minister had reportedly just called Putin "a rat in a corner."
SEuropean officials called the advice cordial, Reuters reports. And baffling.
EHere's the context. Washington is pushing for a negotiated end to the Ukraine war, reviewing troop levels in Europe, dangling sanctions relief—it's all one move.
SSo the question is strategy or capitulation. I lean skeptical.
EI call it strategy. You don't get a deal while your allies are describing the other guy as a cornered rat every morning.
SThe Balts aren't wrong, Eric. Softening the words doesn't move the tanks parked on their border.
ENo—but it lowers the temperature of the room. That's diplomacy.
SAnd if no deal comes, you've taught Moscow that pressure works. That's the trade-off.
EThat's the bet Washington is making. We'll find out soon enough.
SThere's a real split inside NATO on this—whether emphasizing the Russian threat deters Moscow or feeds the Kremlin's fear narrative.
EWhich is exactly why the Pentagon's advice isn't crazy. The louder Europe shouts, the easier it is for Moscow to claim encirclement.
SI'll give you this—Washington's being consistent. Sanctions relief, troop review, quiet diplomacy. It's a package.
EA package with a lot riding on Putin's next move.
EMarkets next, and the Fed's fingerprints are on gold this morning.
SReuters reports gold slipped as higher oil and U.S. inflation data strengthen bets on more Fed rate hikes.
EClassic pattern. Inflation anxiety pushes rate expectations higher, and gold loses its shine.
SHigher oil means higher costs across the board, and gold competes with yield. Simple math.
EAlso overnight—the Bank of Japan held interest rates steady. Analysts are weighing in.
SThey've been careful about moving too fast this year. The market's watching their next step closely.
ETrade news too. Germany's Friedrich Merz plans to head to Brussels to relay Asian partners' worries about protectionism.
STrade-war pressure isn't letting up. Europe's caught between the U.S. and Asia on tariffs.
SOne more from Reuters, and it's a serious one. Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian home in the West Bank.
EDetails are thin right now. We'll keep an eye on it as more comes in.
SThat's the morning so far. More headlines in a few minutes.

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