WASHINGTON
A key Senate Democrat has asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to ensure that U.S. diplomats are involved in a Pentagon-led review of America’s military presence in Europe that has alarmed NATO allies. In a letter addressed to Rubio, who is also the national security advisor, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote that diplomats, including U.S. ambassadors in potentially affected countries, are being kept out of the loop.
The review, which began in June and is due to conclude by the end of the year, is part of a push by the Trump administration to have Europe rely less on the United States and instead take more responsibility for its own defense.
The U.S. has around 80,000 troops stationed in Europe. “The Department of State, which is responsible for managing our bilateral relationships, has traditionally played a substantial role in reviews of this kind,” read the letter.
“Yet what we are hearing through our own conversations, travel across Europe and engagement with our Allies tells a different story. U.S. Ambassadors and Chiefs of Mission in affected countries have been excluded from consultations.”
The Europe force posture review is being handled almost exclusively by the Department of Defense, with Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby taking a leading role.
The Trump administration has frequently excluded State Department personnel from policy debates relevant to their portfolios. They declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.
Advocates of that approach say that, by keeping decision-making circles small, the administration can move quickly while minimizing leaks. Opponents say it means weighty decisions are made without sufficient input from experts and allies. The Pentagon, State Department and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.